27. The Senses Flashcards
raw sensory input that reaches the central nervous system
Sensation
the brain’s interpretation of a sensation
Perception
cell that detects stimulus information
Sensory receptor
sensory receptor sensitive to physical deflection
Mechanoreceptor
sensory receptor that responds to temperature
Thermoreceptor
sensory receptor that detects mechanical damage, temperature extremes, or chemicals released from damaged cells
Pain receptor
sensory receptor that detects the position of body parts
Proprioceptor
molecule or cell that detects quality and quantity of light
Photoreceptor
sensory receptor that responds to chemicals
Chemoreceptor
transfer of DNA into a cell via a virus
Transduction
localized change in membrane potential (a graded potential) in a sensory receptor
Receptor potential
lessening of sensation with prolonged exposure to a stimulus
Sensory adaptation
the sense of smell
Olfaction
the sense of taste
Gustation
organ that forms the entrance to the nasal cavity inside the head; functions in breathing and olfaction
Nose
chemical an organism releases that elicits a response in another member of the species
Pheromones
cluster of cells that detect chemicals in food
Taste buds
muscular structure on the floor of the mouth; mixes food and aids in swallowing
Tongue
sensory receptor that detects chemicals; relied on by both smell and taste
Chemoreceptor
chemoreceptor in the nose that binds to odorant molecules
Olfactory receptor cell
cluster of neurons that transmit messages from olfactory receptor cells to the brain
Olfactory bulb
chemoreceptor that binds to dissolved food molecules and forms synapses with sensory neurons that lead to the brain
Taste receptor cell
pigment in rod cells that transduces light into an electrochemical signal
Rhodopsin
the outermost layer of the eye; the white of the eye
Sclera
in the eye, a modified portion of the sclera that forms a transparent, curved window that admits light
Cornea
middle layer of the eyeball, between the sclera and the retina
Choroid
colored part of the eye; regulates the size of the pupil
Iris
opening in the iris that admits light into the eye
Pupil
sheet of photoreceptors that forms the innermost layer of the eye
Retina
nerve fibers that connect the retina to the brain
Optic nerve
structure in the eye that bends incoming light
Lens
photoreceptor in the retina that provides black-and-white vision
Rod cells
photoreceptor cell in the retina that detects colors
Cone cells
interneuron in the retina that generates action potentials
Ganglion cells
neuron in the retina that passes signals from rod/cone cells to ganglion cells
Bipolar neuron
bundle of ganglion cell axons that conveys visual information from the retina to the thalamus
Optic nerve
brain structure that conveys visual/audio information to the primary visual/auditory cortex
Thalamus
brain structure that processes and interprets visual information
Primary visual cortex
sense organ of hearing and equilibrium
Ear
ear canal; funnels sounds from the outer ear to the eardrum
Auditory canal
structure that transmits sound from air to the middle ear
Eardrum
membrane between the middle ear and the inner ear
Oval window
spiral-shaped part of the inner ear, where vibrations are translated into nerve impulses
Cochlea
the lower wall of the cochlear canal; vibrates in response to sound and studded with hair cells
Basilar membrane
mechanoreceptor that initiates sound transduction in the cochlea and conveys it to the thalamus
Hair cells
membrane in contact with hair cells of the cochlea
Tectorial membrane
nerve fibers that connect the cochlea and vestibular apparatus to the brain
Auditory nerve
fluid-filled canal that receives vibrations from the oval window and transfers them to the cochlear canal and is continuous with the tympanic canal
Vestibular canal
fluid-filled canal sandwiched between the vestibular and tympanic canals; fluid within the canal receives vibrations from the vestibular canal
Cochlear canal
inner ear sensory system that provides information on the position and acceleration of the head; includes the utricle, saccule, and semicircular canals
Vestibular apparatus
one of three perpendicular fluid-filled structures in the inner ear; provides information on the rotation of the head
Semicircular canals
As you snuggle into bed, you feel the weight of the blankets on your body, but you soon become unaware of the covers. What has happened?
1. Your skin’s touch receptors have become unable to receive information about new stimuli.
2. Your skin’s touch receptors have adapted to the feeling of the blankets.
3. All of your body’s sensory receptors have become unable to receive information about new stimuli.
4. All of your body’s sensory receptors have adapted to the feling of feeling of the blankets.
- Your skin’s touch receptors have adapted to the feeling of the blankets.
Which type of sensory receptor enables you to feel the position of your legs, even if a table hides your legs from sight?
1. Thermoreceptor
2. Photoreceptor
3. Chemoreceptor
4. Proprioceptor
- Proprioceptor
In what way are the senses of smell and taste different?
1. Chemoreceptors detect smell, wheras mechanoreceptors detect taste.
2. Olfactory receptors bind to chemicals dissolved in gas, whereas taste receptors bind to chemicals dissolved in water.
3. Smell is processed in the spinal cord, whereas taste is processed in the brain.
4. We can smell chemicals from distant objects, whereas taste is limited to chemicals at close range.
- We can smell chemicals from distant objects, whereas taste is limited to chemicals at close range.
The structures that enable bees to see flowers are:
1. eye cups.
2. single-lens eyes.
3. ommatidia.
4. maculas.
- ommatidia.
What is the function of hair cells in the cochlea?
1. Transduce sound waves into neural impulses.
2. Interpret and identify sounds.
3. Funnel sounds to the inner ear.
4. Prevent debris from entering the delicate inner ear.
- Transduce sound waves into neural impulses.
