21 - Skin sensation Flashcards
The somatosensory system comprises 3 subdivisions…
- Cutaneous (skin) sensations
- Visceral (internal) sensations
- Proprioception (position of body in space)
The somatosensory system provides 3 main functions for the organism
- Recognition
- Exploration
- Communication
Sensory receptors convert stimulus energy into a…
Graded electrical signal
This is sensory transduction
Cutaneous (skin) receptors are distinguished based on 4 main properties…
- Appearance
- Location (deep or superficial)
- Size of receptive field (sensitive area)
- Physiological properties (rapid or slowly adapting)
Receptor adaptation is the relationship between he stimulus and the…
Duration of nerve firing
Tonic receptors are slow and produce….
Continuous firing in response to stimuli
Temperature is detected by…
Free nerve endings
Warm temperature is detected by unmyelinated…
C fibres
Cold temperatures are detected by small, myelinated…
A delta fibres
Nociceptors detect…
Pain (noxious stimuli)
The small myelinated A delta fibres are responsible for
A) initial sharp pain
B) subsequent nagging pain
C) proprioception
A) initial sharp pain
The unmyelinated C fibres are responsible for…
A) Initial sharp pain
B) Subsequent nagging pain
C) visceral sensations
B) Subsequent nagging pain
List as many cutaneous receptor types as you can (up to 6)…
- Meissen
- Pacinian
- Ruffini
- Merkel
- Hair follicle
- Free nerve ending
The Ruffinini and Merkel cutaneous receptors both detect…
Pressure
The pacinian corpuscle’s rapid adaptation depends on the presence of…
The capsule
