A thermoreceptor in the skin converts heat energy to nerve impulses. This conversion is called sensory transduction.
Sensory transduction can be defined as the conversion of a sensory stimulus from one form to another. In this case, a receptor cell or exteroceptor (receive external sensory stimuli) converts the energy of a stimulus into an action potential (nerve impulse) which is then transmitted along axons towards the central nervous system for integration.
