A&P - Chapter 23 (Part 1) Flashcards
What makes is possible for the body to respond to stimuli caused by changes in our internal and external environment?
Sensory receptors/organs
What is the general function of receptors?
Is to respond to stimuli
How do receptors respond to a stimuli?
By converting stimuli to nerve impulses
Do different types of receptors respond to different stimuli?
Yes
Receptor potential
Is a local potential that develops in a receptors membrane when an adequate stimulus acts on a receptor
What kind of response is a receptor potential?
Graded response
- graded to the strength of the stimulus
What happens when the receptors reaches a certain threshold?
It triggers an action potential in the sensory neurons axon
Where do action potentials/impulses travel?
Over sensory pathways to the brain and spinal cord
What happens to impulses once they reach the brain and spinal cord?
They interpret the particular sensations or initiate some type of reflex action
What is an example of a reflex? (2)
- Hitting the patella and having the leg move
2. Pulling your hand away from a hot surface
Adaptation
Is a functional characteristics of receptors
What does adaptation refer to?
The process that causes the receptor potential to decrease over time in response to a continuous stimulus
What does a decrease of stimulus lead?
To a decrease rate of impulse conduction and a decreased intensity of sensation
What are 5 examples special sense receptors?
- Smell
- Taste
- Vision
- Hearing
- Equilibrium
What is an example of localized special sense receptors?
Taste buds on the tongue
What is an example of complex special sense receptors? (2)
- Eyes
2. Nose
General sense organs
Are microscopic receptors widely distributed throughout the body in the skin, mucosa, connective tissue, muscles, tendons, joints and viscera
- somatic senses
How are receptors classified? (3)
- By location
- By stimulus detected
- By structure
What are 3 examples of classification of receptors by location?
- Exteroceptors
- Interoceptors/visceroceptor
- Proprioceptors
- special type of visceroceptor
What are 6 examples of classification of receptors by stimulus detected?
- Mechanoreceptors
- Chemoreceptors
- Thermorecptors
- Nociceptors
- Photoreceptors
- Osmoreceptors
What are 2 examples of classification of receptors by structure?
- Free nerve endings
2. Encapsulated nerve endings
Where are exteroceptors located?
On/near body surfaces
What is exteroceptors often called?
Cutaneous receptors
What are 4 examples of cutaneous receptors?
- Pressure
- Touch
- Pain
- Temperature
Where are interoceptors located?
Internally
- often within body organs/viscera
What do visceroceptors provide the body with?
Information about the internal environment
- such as pressure, stretch, chemical changes, hunger and thirst
