9. Sensory systems

Question 1

exteroceptor

Answer 1

receptor receiving stimuli from outside the body

Question 2

interoceptor

Answer 2

receptor receiving stimuli from outside the body?

Question 3

proprioceptor

Answer 3

receptor detecting the position of the body and the state of the muscles, tendons and joints

Question 4

contact receptor

Answer 4

the source of the stimulus has to be in contact with the receptor to elicit a response

Question 5

telereceptor

Answer 5

the source of the stimulus is distant from the receptor

Question 6

stimulus threshold

Answer 6

minimal energy of stimulus that changes action potential frequency in the primary sensory neuron

Question 7

stimulus adaptation

Answer 7

the process in which the effect of the stimulus on the receptor decreases in time

Question 8

receptive field

Answer 8

part of the environment or body (visual field, skin, etc.) from which the activity of the examined element of the sensory system can be changed

Question 9

receptor potential

Answer 9

membrane potential change of the sensory cell in response to the stimulus

Question 10

topography

Answer 10

the spatial arrangement of the sensory cells is mapped throughout the sensory system

Question 11

dermatome

Answer 11

strip-like part of the skin innervated by one spinal segment

Question 12

homunculus

Answer 12

drawing indicating the representation of different body parts on the somatosensory cortex proportionally to the number of receptors, thus causing disortion of the image

Question 13

Weber-Fechner’s law

Answer 13

exponential equation showing the relationship between stimulus and response in sensory systems