Cells that transduce mechanical stimuli and relay that information in the nervous system.

Sensory receptor neurons that respond to mechanical displacement of the sensory surface. Examples are muscle spindle receptors and hair cells.

Organic transducer made up of a mechanical portion that activates a neural portion. It provides a specific function by reacting only to a certain form of stimuli. Example 1: semicircular canal, which consists of a curved, fluid-filled tube with a flow sensor ( cupula) at one end (mechanical) that activates attached hair cells (neural). It reacts only to angular acceleration (turning) in its plane. Example 2: an otolith organ, which consists of heavy particles (mechanical) that are attached to a bed of hair cells (neural). The direction of inertio-gravitational pull on the heavy particles, and hence the hair cells, provides input as to head position.