mekanosensitive

Mekanosensitive is an adjective used to describe systems, cells, or tissues that perceive and respond to mechanical stimuli such as pressure, stretch, compression, shear, or vibration. The term is closely related to the broader concept of mechanosensitivity and can be encountered in biology, physiology, and engineering contexts. In some languages or fields, mekano-sensitivity is used as a direct spelling variant of mechanosensitive.

Biological basis and examples. Mechanosensitivity typically arises from specialized mechanosensitive elements that convert physical forces into chemical or electrical signals. The most studied examples are mechanosensitive ion channels, such as Piezo1 and Piezo2 in vertebrates, which open in response to membrane stretch and initiate signaling cascades. Other systems include bacterial channels like MscL and MscS, plant channels such as MSL and MCA families, and various cytoskeletal and membrane-associated complexes that couple force to cellular responses. Mechanosensitive signaling underpins many processes, from touch and proprioception to hearing, vascular regulation, and plant growth responses to mechanical cues.

Physiological and applied relevance. In humans, mechanosensitivity is essential for tactile sensation, balance, and hearing, and defects in mechanosensitive pathways have been linked to sensory disorders. Beyond biology, mekano-sensitivity is a central concept in the development of tactile sensors, electronic skin, and soft robotics. Researchers study the physics of membrane tension, channel gating, and mechanotransduction pathways to design robust sensors and to understand how mechanical information is integrated with chemical signaling in living systems.

See also: mechanosensation, mechanotransduction, mechanosensitive ion channels, Piezo channels.