Körperchen

Körperchen is a German term that translates to "little body" or "corpuscle" in English. In biology and medicine, it refers to small, discrete structures or particles within an organism. These structures can have a variety of functions, from sensory perception to cellular components.

A well-known example is Pacinian corpuscles, which are sensory receptors in the skin responsible for detecting deep pressure and vibration. Meissner's corpuscles are another type of sensory receptor, found in the skin of the fingertips, lips, and tongue, and are sensitive to light touch and texture. In the realm of cell biology, mitochondria are sometimes colloquially referred to as "cell corpuscles" due to their distinct, small, organelle-like nature. Blood corpuscles, such as red blood cells and white blood cells, are also fundamental "little bodies" within the circulatory system, each with specific roles in oxygen transport and immunity. The term "Körperchen" is broad and its specific meaning depends heavily on the biological context in which it is used.