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Definition of Receptor
1. Noun. A cellular structure that is postulated to exist in order to mediate between a chemical agent that acts on nervous tissue and the physiological response.
Specialized synonyms: Alpha Receptor, Alpha-adrenergic Receptor, Alpha-adrenoceptor, Beta Receptor, Beta-adrenergic Receptor, Beta-adrenoceptor
2. Noun. An organ having nerve endings (in the skin or viscera or eye or ear or nose or mouth) that respond to stimulation.
Specialized synonyms: Lateral Line, Lateral Line Organ, Enteroceptor, Interoceptor, Exteroceptor, Pineal Eye, Third Eye, Baroreceptor, Chemoreceptor, Thermoreceptor, Eye, Oculus, Optic, Ear, Organ Of Hearing, Inner Ear, Internal Ear, Labyrinth, Semicircular Canal, Stretch Receptor
Generic synonyms: Organ
Terms within: Papilla
Group relationships: Sensory System
Antonyms: Effector
Derivative terms: Receive
Definition of Receptor
1. Noun. (context: biochemistry medicine) A protein on a cell wall that binds with specific molecules so that they can be absorbed into the cell in order to control certain functions. ¹
2. Noun. (biology) Any specialized cell or structure that responds to sensory stimuli. ¹
¹ Source: wiktionary.com
Definition of Receptor
1. a nerve ending specialized to receive stimuli [n -S]
Medical Definition of Receptor
1. 1. A molecular structure within a cell or on the surface characterised by selective binding of a specific substance and a specific physiologic effect that accompanies the binding, for example, cell surface receptors for peptide hormones, neurotransmitters, antigens, complement fragments and immunoglobulins and cytoplasmic receptors for steroid hormones. 2. A sensory nerve terminal that responds to stimuli of various kinds. This entry appears with permission from the Dictionary of Cell and Molecular Biology (11 Mar 2008)
Lexicographical Neighbors of Receptor
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