Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Internal Receptors

Internal Receptors

Many cellular signals are hydrophilic and therefore cannot pass through the plasma membrane. However, small or hydrophobic signaling molecules can cross the hydrophobic core of the plasma membrane and bind to internal, or intracellular, receptors that reside within the cell. Many mammalian steroid hormones use this mechanism of cell signaling, as does nitric oxide (NO) gas.

Receptor-mediated Endocytosis

Receptor-mediated Endocytosis

Enzyme-linked Receptors

Enzyme-linked Receptors

Enzyme-linked receptors are proteins that act as both receptor and enzyme, activating multiple intracellular signals. This is a large group of receptors that include the receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) family. Many growth factors and hormones bind to and activate the RTKs.
Neurotrophin (NT) receptors are a family of RTKs, including trkA, trkB, and trkC (tropomyosin-related kinase) receptors. TrkA is specific for nerve growth factor (NGF), neurotrophin-6, and neurotrophin-7. TrkB binds...

G-protein Coupled Receptors

G-protein Coupled Receptors

G-protein coupled receptors are ligand binding receptors that indirectly affect changes in the cell. The actual receptor is a single polypeptide that transverses the cell membrane seven times creating intracellular and extracellular loops. The extracellular loops create a ligand specific pocket which binds to neurotransmitters or hormones. The intracellular loops holds onto the G-protein.

Types of Receptors: Internal Receptors

Types of Receptors: Internal Receptors

Many cellular signals are hydrophilic and cannot pass through the plasma membrane. However, small or hydrophobic signaling molecules can cross the hydrophobic core of the plasma membrane and bind intracellular receptors that reside within the cell cytoplasm or nucleus. Many mammalian steroid hormones and nitric oxide (NO) gas use this cell signaling mechanism.
Similar to membrane-bound receptors, the binding of a ligand to the intracellular receptor of causes a conformational change in the...

Types of Receptors: Cell Surface Receptors

Types of Receptors: Cell Surface Receptors

Cell-surface receptors, also known as transmembrane receptors, are cell surface, membrane-anchored (integral) proteins that bind to external ligand molecules. This type of receptor spans the plasma membrane and performs signal transduction, converting an extracellular signal into an intracellular signal. Ligands that interact with cell-surface receptors do not have to enter the cell that they affect. Cell-surface receptors are also called cell-specific proteins or markers because they are...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

In praise of anaglyphs.

i-Perception·2026

Same author

Textured surface stereoscopy.

i-Perception·2025

Same author

Revealing the Concealed in Monocular and Binocular Vision.

Vision (Basel, Switzerland)·2025

Same author

Stereoscopic depth without monocular recognition.

i-Perception·2025

Same author

Malcolm Bruce Macmillan (1929-2024).

Journal of the history of the neurosciences·2025

Same author

Malcolm Bruce Macmillan (1929-2024).

Journal of the history of the neurosciences·2025

Same journal

Benchmarking spatial discrimination thresholds of two-frame motion defined forms compared to luminance and stereoscopic defined forms.

Perception·2026

Same journal

The effect of face masks on the perception of trustworthiness and competence in individuals with autistic traits.

Perception·2026

Same journal

The importance of external features for categorizing ethnicity: can Koreans identify Korean, Japanese, and Chinese faces?

Perception·2026

Same journal

Interoception, alexithymia, and motor congruency: Psychological drivers of body ownership in virtual reality.

Perception·2026

Same journal

The frustration of a small <i>n</i>.

Perception·2026

Same journal

Why do we have two eyes.

Perception·2026

See all related articles

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 10, 2026

Receptor Autoradiography Protocol for the Localized Visualization of Angiotensin II Receptors

Receptor Autoradiography Protocol for the Localized Visualization of Angiotensin II Receptors

Published on: June 7, 2016

Receptor Visionaries.

Nicholas J Wade¹

¹Psychology, University of Dundee, Scotland, UK.

|May 18, 2018

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Microscopes revealed sensory receptors, with 19th-century advancements leading to morphological naming in vision and eponyms in touch. This work combines historical illustrations with portraits of discoverers.

Keywords:

anatomists microanatomy receptors senses ‘perceptual portraits’

More Related Videos

High-throughput Analysis of Mammalian Olfactory Receptors: Measurement of Receptor Activation via Luciferase Activity

High-throughput Analysis of Mammalian Olfactory Receptors: Measurement of Receptor Activation via Luciferase Activity

Published on: June 2, 2014

A BW Reporter System for Studying Receptor-Ligand Interactions

A BW Reporter System for Studying Receptor-Ligand Interactions

Published on: January 7, 2019

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Feb 10, 2026

Receptor Autoradiography Protocol for the Localized Visualization of Angiotensin II Receptors

Receptor Autoradiography Protocol for the Localized Visualization of Angiotensin II Receptors

Published on: June 7, 2016

High-throughput Analysis of Mammalian Olfactory Receptors: Measurement of Receptor Activation via Luciferase Activity

High-throughput Analysis of Mammalian Olfactory Receptors: Measurement of Receptor Activation via Luciferase Activity

Published on: June 2, 2014

A BW Reporter System for Studying Receptor-Ligand Interactions

A BW Reporter System for Studying Receptor-Ligand Interactions

Published on: January 7, 2019

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Histology
Microscopy

Background:

The study of sensory receptors has a long history, with significant advancements occurring in the 19th century.
The development of achromatic lenses for microscopes greatly improved the ability to observe and describe cellular structures.

Observation:

Sensory receptors were historically described and illustrated following microscopic observation.
Descriptions and naming conventions varied across different sensory systems.

Findings:

In the field of vision, sensory receptors were often named based on their physical form (morphology).
Conversely, in the sense of touch, receptors frequently acquired names derived from the scientists who first identified them (eponyms).
This compilation integrates original illustrations of receptors with portraits of the pioneering scientists.

Implications:

Understanding the historical context of sensory receptor discovery enhances our appreciation of their complexity.
This work provides a unique visual and biographical resource for researchers and students in sensory science.
It highlights the interplay between technological advancements (microscopy) and scientific discovery.