One of the various forms of small sensory end organs (receptors) situated within the walls of the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts or in other viscera. [inter- + L. capio, to take]
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n.
any receptor organ composed of sensory nerve cells that respond to and monitor changes within the body, such as the stretching of muscles or the acidity of the blood.
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in·tero·cep·tor (in″tər-o-sepґtər) any of the sensory nerve terminals that are located in and transmit impulses from the viscera; see receptor (def. 3), exteroceptor, and proprioceptor.Medical dictionary. 2011.