BIO100 Chptr 12 Nervous System III Senses Flashcards
aud-
aud-, to hear: auditory
—pertaining to hearing.
choroid
choroid, skinlike: choroid coat
—middle, vascular layer of the eye.
cochlea
cochlea, snail: cochlea
—coiled tube in the inner ear.
corn-
corn-, horn: cornea
—transparent outer layer in the anterior portion of the eye.
iris
iris, rainbow: iris
—colored, muscular part of the eye.
labyrinth
labyrinth, maze: labyrinth
—complex system of connecting chambers and tubes of the inner ear.
lacri-
lacri-, tears: lacrimal gland
—tear gland.
lut-
lut-, yellow: macula lutea
—yellowish spot on the retina.
macula
macula, spot: macula lutea
—yellowish spot on the retina.
malle-
malle-, hammer: malleus
—one of the three bones in the middle ear.
ocul-
ocul-, eye: orbicularis oculi
—muscle associated with the eyelid.
olfact-
olfact-, to smell: olfactory—pertaining to the sense of smell.
palpebra
palpebra, eyelid: levator palpebrae superioris
—muscle associated with the eyelid.
photo-
photo-, light: photoreceptors
—specialized structures in the eye responsive to light.
scler-
scler-, hard: sclera
—tough, outer protective layer of the eye.
therm-
therm-, heat: thermoreceptor
—receptor sensitive to changes in temperature.
tympan-
tympan-, drum: tympanic membrane
—eardrum.
vitre-
vitre-, glass: vitreous humor
—clear, jellylike substance in the eye.
general senses
The general senses are those with receptors widely distributed throughout the body, including the skin, various organs, and joints.
special senses
The special senses have more specialized receptors and are confined to structures in the head, such as the eyes and ears.
receptor cells
Receptors are the cells or structures that detect sensations. A receptor cell is changed directly by a stimulus. A transmembrane protein receptor is a protein in the cell membrane that mediates a physiological change in a neuron, most often through the opening of ion channels or changes in the cell signaling processes.
membrane receptors
are specialized protein molecules attached to or integrated into the cell membrane. Through interaction with specific ligands (e.g., hormones and neurotransmitters), the receptors facilitate communication between the cell and the extracellular environment.
Receptor Types
Five types of sensory receptors are recognized, based on their sensitivities to specific stimuli:
Chemoreceptors Pain receptors Thermoreceptors Mechanoreceptors - (Proprioceptors, baroreceptors , stretch receptors) Photoreceptors
Chemoreceptors (ke″mo-re-sep′torz)
respond to changes in the concentration of chemicals. Receptors associated with the senses of smell and taste are of this type. Chemoreceptors in internal organs detect changes in the blood concentrations of oxygen, hydrogen ions, glucose, and other chemicals.
Pain receptors, also called nociceptors (no″se-sep′torz)
respond to tissue damage. Triggering stimuli include exposure to excess mechanical, electrical, thermal, or chemical energy.
Thermoreceptors (ther″mo-re-sep′torz)
sense temperature change.
Mechanoreceptors (mek″ah-no re-sep′torz)
are of several types and respond to mechanical forces by detecting changes that deform the receptors. They include a number of receptors in the skin that respond to physical contact, and several receptors in the ear that provide information about balance and vibrations from sound.
Proprioceptors (pro″pre-o-sep′torz)
respond to changes in the tensions of muscles and tendons;
baroreceptors (bar″o-re-sep′torz)
also called pressoreceptors, in certain blood vessels detect changes in blood pressure;
stretch receptors
in the lungs respond to degree of inflation.
Photoreceptors (fo″to-re-sep′torz)
in the eyes respond to light energy of sufficient intensity.
membrane potentials (receptor potentials)
also known as a generator potential, a type of graded potential, is the transmembrane potential difference produced by activation of a sensory receptor. - The influx of current will often bring the membrane potential of the sensory receptor towards the threshold for triggering an action potential.
A sensation occurs
when sensory neurons reach threshold and the resulting action potentials cause the brain to become aware of that sensory event. “Thus, pain is a sensation, but realizing that you have just stepped on a tack is a perception.”
A perception occurs
when the brain interprets those sensory impulses. “Thus, pain is a sensation, but realizing that you have just stepped on a tack is a perception.”
projection
At the same time that a sensation forms the cerebral cortex interprets it as coming from the receptors being stimulated. This process, which is closely related to perception, is called projection, because the brain projects the sensation back to its apparent source. Projection allows a person to pinpoint the region of stimulation. In this way, we perceive that the eyes see an apple, the nose smells it, and the ears hear the teeth crunch into it.
sensory adaptation
refers to a reduction in sensitivity to a stimulus after constant exposure to it. While sensory adaptation reduces our awareness of a constant stimulus, it helps free up our attention and resources to attend to other stimuli in the environment around us. - “tuning out”
exteroreceptive senses
are associated with changes at the body surface. They include the senses of touch, pressure, temperature, and pain.
interoceptive (visceroceptive) senses
are associated with changes in viscera (blood pressure stretching blood vessels, an ingested meal stimulating pH receptors in the small intestine, and so on).
Proprioceptive senses
are associated with changes in muscles and tendons and in body position.
Free nerve endings
the simplest receptors, are common in epithelial tissues, where the ends of dendrites branch and extend between epithelial cells. They are responsible for the sensation of itching and other sensations
Tactile (Meissner’s) corpuscles
are small, oval masses of flattened connective tissue cells in connective tissue sheaths. Two or more sensory fibers branch into each corpuscle and end within it as tiny knobs.
Tactile corpuscles are abundant in hairless areas of skin, such as the lips, fingertips, palms, soles, nipples, and external genital organs. They provide the sensation of fine touch, such as distinguishing two points on the skin where an object touches, to judge its texture
Lamellated (Pacinian)
corpuscles are nerve endings encased in relatively large, ellipsoidal structures composed of connective tissue fibers and cells. They are common in the deeper dermal tissues of the hands, feet, penis, clitoris, urethra, and breasts and also in the connective tissue capsules of synovial joints.Heavier pressure and stretch stimulate lamellated corpuscles. They also detect vibrations in tissues.
referred pain
Visceral pain may feel as if it is coming from some part of the body other than the part being stimulated, in a phenomenon called referred pain. - Referred pain may derive from common nerve pathways that conduct sensory impulses both from skin areas and from internal organs
fast pain fibers (also known as A-delta fibers)
are myelinated. They conduct impulses rapidly, at velocities up to 30 meters per second. These impulses are associated with the immediate sensation of sharp pain, which typically seems to originate in a local area of skin. This type of pain seldom continues after the pain-producing stimulus stops.
slow pain fibers (C fibers)
are unmyelinated. They conduct impulses more slowly than fast pain fibers, at velocities up to 2 meters per second. These impulses cause a delayed, dull, aching pain sensation that may be widespread and difficult to pinpoint. Such pain may continue after the original stimulus ceases. Although immediate pain is usually sensed as coming from the surface, delayed pain is felt in deeper tissues as well as in the skin. Visceral pain impulses are typically carried on C fibers.
enkephalins
either of two compounds that occur naturally in the brain. They are peptides related to the endorphins, with similar physiological effects. - Enkephalins and endorphins are released in response to extreme pain, providing natural pain control.
monoamine serotonin
These neurotransmitters are involved in mediating a wide range of physiological and homeostatic functions, which vary with the part of the brain being examined.
endorphins
are another group of neuropeptides with pain-suppressing, morphinelike actions. They are found in the pituitary gland and in regions of the nervous system, such as the hypothalamus, that relay pain information. - Enkephalins and endorphins are released in response to extreme pain, providing natural pain control.
Muscle spindles
are located throughout skeletal muscles. Each spindle consists of several small, modified skeletal muscle fibers (intrafusal fibers) enclosed in a connective tissue sheath. Each intrafusal fiber has near its center a specialized nonstriated region with the end of a sensory nerve fiber wrapped around it
Golgi tendon organs
are in tendons close to their attachments to muscles. Each Golgi tendon organ connects to a set of skeletal muscle fibers and is innervated by a sensory neuron. Golgi tendon organs have high thresholds, and increased tension stimulates them. Sensory impulses from them produce a reflex that inhibits contraction of the muscle whose tendon they occupy. Therefore, the Golgi tendon organs stimulate a reflex with an effect that is the opposite of a stretch reflex. The Golgi tendon reflex also helps maintain posture, and it protects muscle attachments from being pulled loose by excessive tension.
Receptors Associated with General Senses
- Free nerve endings (mechanoreceptors) - Detect changes in pressure - Touch, pressure
- Tactile corpuscles (mechanoreceptors) - Detect objects moving over the skin - Touch, texture
- Lamellated corpuscles (mechanoreceptors) - Detect changes in pressure - Deep pressure, vibrations, fullness in viscera
- Free nerve endings (thermoreceptors) - Detect changes in temperature - Heat, cold
- Free nerve endings (pain receptors) - Detect tissue damage - Pain
- Free nerve endings (mechanoreceptors) - Detect stretching of tissues, tissue spasms - Visceral pain
- Muscle spindles (mechanoreceptors) - Detect changes in muscle length - None
- Golgi tendon organs (mechanoreceptors) - Detect changes in muscle tension - None