4. Sensory systems and special senses

Question 1

List 5 special senses

Answer 1

-Olfaction-smell
-Vision
-Taste
-Hearing or audition
-Vestibular function

Question 2

What sensory receptor does olfaction use and describe their pathway from the receptor to the cortex

Answer 2

They use Chemoreceptors and the Olfactory tract projects to cortical areas

Question 3

What sensory receptor does Vision use and describe their pathway from the receptor to the cortex

Answer 3

They use photoreceptors, they go through Photoreceptors than to the bioploar cells and to the ganglion cells

Question 4

What sensory receptor does Taste use and describe their pathway from the receptor to the cortex

Answer 4

They use Chemoreceptors, they use the Cranial nerves VII and IX to project to the interior surface of the frontal cortex

Question 5

What sensory receptor does Hearing or audition use and describe their pathway from the receptor to the cortex

Answer 5

They use Mechanoreceptors, they go from Cochlea,CN VIII, Brainstem Nuclei then to the auditory cortex(Temporal Lobe)

Question 6

What sensory receptor does Vestibular function use and describe their pathway from the receptor to the cortex

Answer 6

They use Mechanoreceptors, neural signals goes to CN VIII

Question 7

Describe myopia and how its caused and how it could be fixed with the corrective lens

Answer 7

Near Sightedness, caused by eyeball being too long and corrected with concave lenses

Question 8

Describe hyperopia and how its caused and how it could be fixed with the corrective lens

Answer 8

Far sightedness caused by eyeball too short and fixed with convex lens

Question 9

Describe presbyopia and how its caused and how it could be fixed with the corrective lens

Answer 9

Loss of lens accommodation caused by age and fixed with reading glasses

Question 10

Describe the function of the external ear.

Answer 10

Funneling/focusing of sound waves

Question 11

Describe the function of the middle ear

Answer 11

Mechanical conversion of sound waves to pressure waves

Question 12

Describe the function of the inner ear

Answer 12

Pressure waves converted to neural signal

Question 13

Explain how sound waves are transduced into a neural signal

Answer 13

by the pressure waves

Question 14

Describe how prolonged exposure to loud sounds induces hearing loss

Answer 14

Hair cells can be damaged

Question 15

What is the difference between conductive and central deafness

Answer 15

one is a failure in the transmission of the sound wave and the other is damage to neural pathways

Question 16

Describe the structure of the vestibular system and its function

Answer 16

Two elegant sensors within the cranium, one on each side
mostly for balance

Question 17

What are the differences between semicircular canals and the otolith organs

Answer 17

Semicircular canals detects rotational movements and the otolith organ detects the position of the head relative to gravity

Question 18

Explain why vertigo and nystagmus can arise from vestibular dysfunction

Answer 18

This can happen when there is an imbalance of vestibular inputs

Question 19

Explain why vertigo and nystagmus don’t always indicate that there is a problem with the vestibular system

Answer 19

can be evoked as a normal response(e.g after spinning) or spontaneously as a sign of underlying neuropathology