somatosensory
adjective
so·mato·sen·so·ry
sō-ˌma-tə-ˈsen(t)s-rē 
-ˈsen(t)-sə-rē
: of, relating to, or being sensory activity having its origin elsewhere than in the special sense organs (such as eyes and ears) and conveying information about the state of the body proper and its immediate environment
also
: relating to or being either of two regions in the parietal lobe that receive and process somatosensory stimuli
Examples of somatosensory in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
For example, gymnasts who practice walking on narrow beams continuously challenge their somatosensory and vestibular systems.
—
Discover Magazine, 19 Oct. 2023
The somatosensory system registers sensations detected by the muscles, joints, skin and the body tissues that connect them, called the fascia.
—Gurpreet Singh, The Conversation, 9 Oct. 2023
The somatosensory cortex enables the brain to sense what the body touches.
—Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 19 Sep. 2023
Surgeons must avoid areas of the cortex that are crucial for everyday behavior, such as the primary auditory, visual, somatosensory and motor cortices and the regions controlling understanding and producing speech, areas known as the eloquent cortex.
—Christof Koch, Scientific American, 10 May 2021
The compound found in Sichuan peppercorns trigger somatosensory neurons to prevent the influx and efflux of electrolytes, Na^+ and K^+, through ion channels [6,7].
—Anthony Martin, Discover Magazine, 13 Jan. 2016
Your somatosensory system takes input from external stimuli, such as heat, cold, pressure, and other physical inputs, and communicates these impulses through your spinal cord to your brain’s cerebral cortex.
—Sarah Wells, Popular Mechanics, 11 July 2023
Ultimately, Lubetzky hopes her VR setup could help measure how much a patient with somatosensory system damage relies on their vision.
—K. N. Smith, Discover Magazine, 20 Sep. 2017
These impulses travel through the central nervous system to the brain's somatosensory cortex.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 20 Feb. 2023
See More
Discover Magazine, 19 Oct. 2023
The somatosensory system registers sensations detected by the muscles, joints, skin and the body tissues that connect them, called the fascia.
—Gurpreet Singh, The Conversation, 9 Oct. 2023
The somatosensory cortex enables the brain to sense what the body touches.
—Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 19 Sep. 2023
Surgeons must avoid areas of the cortex that are crucial for everyday behavior, such as the primary auditory, visual, somatosensory and motor cortices and the regions controlling understanding and producing speech, areas known as the eloquent cortex.
—Christof Koch, Scientific American, 10 May 2021
The compound found in Sichuan peppercorns trigger somatosensory neurons to prevent the influx and efflux of electrolytes, Na^+ and K^+, through ion channels [6,7].
—Anthony Martin, Discover Magazine, 13 Jan. 2016
Your somatosensory system takes input from external stimuli, such as heat, cold, pressure, and other physical inputs, and communicates these impulses through your spinal cord to your brain’s cerebral cortex.
—Sarah Wells, Popular Mechanics, 11 July 2023
Ultimately, Lubetzky hopes her VR setup could help measure how much a patient with somatosensory system damage relies on their vision.
—K. N. Smith, Discover Magazine, 20 Sep. 2017
These impulses travel through the central nervous system to the brain's somatosensory cortex.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 20 Feb. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'somatosensory.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1952, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near somatosensory
Cite this Entry
“Somatosensory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/somatosensory. Accessed 4 Dec. 2023.
Copy Citation
Medical Definition
somatosensory
adjective
so·ma·to·sen·so·ry
sō-ˌmat-ə-ˈsen(t)s-(ə-)rē
ˌsō-mət-ə-
ˌsō-mət-ə-
: of, relating to, or being sensory activity having its origin elsewhere than in the special sense organs (as eyes and ears) and conveying information about the state of the body proper and its immediate environment
somatosensory pathways
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share