Pressfornemmelse

Pressfornemmelse is the sensory perception of mechanical pressure applied to the skin and deeper tissues. It is a component of the somatosensory system that enables detection of sustained contact, grip, and pressure changes, and it is distinct from light touch, vibration, and pain.

Physiology: The sense of pressure is mediated by cutaneous and deep mechanoreceptors. In the skin, Merkel cells and Ruffini endings contribute to static pressure and sustained indentation, while Meissner corpuscles and Pacinian corpuscles respond to dynamic pressure and vibrotactile stimuli. Signals are carried by A-beta nerve fibers to the spinal cord, ascend via the dorsal columns and thalamus, and are projected to the primary somatosensory cortex for conscious perception. The brain integrates pressure with position and movement information to guide object manipulation and posture.

Types and perceptual qualities: Pressure can be perceived as a steady squeeze (static pressure) or as a changing force (dynamic pressure). Deep pressure in muscles and joints involves different receptors and pathways and often contributes to the sense of limb load and proprioception.

Clinical aspects: Normal pressfornemmelse is important for daily function. Abnormal pressure sensation may indicate peripheral neuropathy, nerve injury, or central nervous system disorders and can be assessed with tests that measure pressure thresholds, such as pressure algometry or monofilament testing, as part of a broader sensory examination.

See also: Somatosensory system; tactile sensation.