Merkel nerve endings are mechanoreceptors situated in the basal epidermis as well as around the apical ends or some hair follicles. They are slowly adapting. They have small receptive fields measuring some millimeters in diameter. Most are associated with fast-conducting large myelinated axons. A single afferent nerve fibre branches to innervate up to 90 such endings. Merkel nerve endings respond to light touch. They respond to sustained pressure, and are sensitive to edges of objects. Their exact functions remain controversial.