What is the primary function of Ruffinian corpuscles?

Ruffini corpuscles, also known as Ruffini endings, play a vital role in sensing pressure and slow or sustained deformation of the skin and connective tissues. Their primary function is to detect low-frequency vibration and sustained pressure changes, making option B correct.

These sensory receptors are found in various parts of the body, including the skin, joints, and some internal tissues. They respond to stretch and deformation, providing important feedback about the position and movement of joints, as well as the tactile stimulus from the skin. This function is crucial not only for proprioception (the sense of body position) but also for the perception of texture and consistency of objects against the skin.

The other options pertain to different types of sensory receptors that serve distinct functions. For instance, receptors that detect high-frequency vibrations typically include Pacinian corpuscles. Pain sensations are conveyed by nociceptors, and temperature changes are sensed by thermoreceptors, none of which overlap with the primary role of Ruffini corpuscles, thereby highlighting the specificity of their function in the context of tactile sensory perception.