Touch receptors are mostly concentrated in which area?

• A. Palms
• B. Lips
• C. Fingertips
• D. Soles

Answer: (C)

Touch sensitivity is determined by how densely packed the touch receptors are and how large their receptive fields are. The fingertips have a dense array of mechanoreceptors with very small receptive fields, which allows for fine tactile discrimination—you can feel textures, edges, and small details with high precision. That high receptor density and small field size make the fingertips far more capable of distinguishing subtle differences than other areas. The palms have many receptors too, but they're spread over a larger area, reducing acuity. The lips are extremely sensitive but cover a much smaller surface area, and the soles have fewer receptors relative to their size. So, the area with the most concentrated touch receptors is the fingertips.