Understanding the Human Tactile System: How Touch Works

The tactile system (also known as the touch system) is the process by which the body processes sensory data from the skin. Because it is one of the five senses, the tactile system is crucial to a human being's ability to understand the world around him.

Skin

• The primary organ in the tactile system is the skin. The skin is the largest organ in the human body, covering around 15 square feet. There are three receptors on the skin: receptors that detect light, receptors that register pressure, and receptors that distinguish among hot, cold and pain.

Nerves

• When our skin detects or feels an object, this sensation is transmitted to our spinal cord via an extensive network of nerves. The spinal cord then sends the signals to the brain, where the feeling is interpreted and processed.

Disorders

• There are several common disorders in the tactile system. One of the more common is hypersensitivity to light, which is caused when the light-based receptors detect light at a higher range than normal.