What type of sensation do Ruffini endings respond to?

Ruffini endings are specialized mechanoreceptors in the skin and joints that primarily respond to sustained pressure and skin stretch. Their role is to detect the degree of mechanical deformation in the skin, which helps in perceiving the stretch and the heaviness of an object. This makes them particularly important for sensing pressure and helping to contribute to proprioception, the sense of body position and movement.

While some other receptors are involved in detecting temperature and light touch, Ruffini endings specifically play a crucial role in responding to pressure and deformation, making pressure the correct association.