Sensory nerve endings located close to the surface of the skin are known as what?

Sensory nerve endings that are located close to the surface of the skin are classified as receptors. These structures are specialized to detect various types of stimuli, such as touch, temperature, pain, and pressure. The receptors convert these stimuli into electrical signals, which are then transmitted to the central nervous system for interpretation.

Receptors can be found in various forms, such as mechanoreceptors for touch, thermoreceptors for temperature, and nociceptors for pain. Their proximity to the skin surface allows for quick and effective responses to environmental changes, making them crucial for the body's sensory functions.

The other terms mentioned, such as neurons, fibers, and synapses, refer to different components of the nervous system. Neurons are the fundamental units that transmit nerve signals but do not specifically indicate the sensory receptors. Fibers can refer to the axons of neurons, and synapses are the junctions where neurons communicate with one another, which is separate from the function of sensory receptors in skin.