How do free nerve endings differ structurally from other nerve endings?
Unlike other nerve endings, such as Meissner's corpuscles or Pacinian corpuscles, free nerve endings lack a specialized encapsulating structure. They consist of fine, branching, non-myelinated axons that terminate in the dermal layers of the skin or penetrate the epithelial layers. This simple structure allows them to be highly responsive to stimuli and capable of rapid adaptation.
