CH # 10: The Senses Flashcards
Mechanism that allows the eye to focus at various distances, primary achieved by changing the curvature of the lens
Accommodation
The eyeball
Bulbous oculi
A sensory receptor that detects the presence of chemicals; responsible 4 taste, smell and monitoring of the concentration of certain chemicals in body fluids
Stimulus: changes in chemical concentration of substances
Chemoreceptor
Spiral or snail-shaped portion of the inner ear
Encloses the organ of Corti which contain the receptors 4 sound
Cochlea
Receptor organ located w/in the ampulla of the semicircular canals; functions in dynamic equilibrium
Crista ampullaris
Senses that r located throughout the body; somatic senses
General senses
Sense of taste
Gustatory sense
The structures that produce and convey tears
Lacrimal apparatus
Yellowish depression on the retina
Macula lutea
Sensory receptors that respond 2 a bending or deformation of the cells; located throughout the skin
Examples: receptors 4 touch, pressure, hearing and equilibrium
Stimulus: changes in pressure or movement in fluids
3 types: free nerve endings, Meissner corpuscles and pacinian corpuscles
Mechanoreceptors
Sensory receptors that respond 2 tissue damage; pain receptors
Stimulus: tissue damage
These receptors do NOT adapt and may continue to send signals after the stimulus has been removed
Nociceptors
A type of chemoreceptor that gives us a sense of smell
They r concentrated on the superior region of the nasal cavity and have long cilia that extend 2 the surface and project in2 the nasal cavity. The cilia r considered 2 b the sensitive receptors
Stimulated by chemicals dissolved in liquids
Olfactory neurons
Little stones of calcium carbonate in the macular of the inner ear
Otoliths
Sensory receptors that sense light; located in the retina of the eye
Stimulus: light energy
Photoreceptors
The sense of body position and movements; responds 2 stimuli originating w/in an organism or muscle
Golgi tendon organs(the junction of a tendon w/a muscle) and muscle spindles(located in skeletal muscles) r impoprtant mechanoreceptors 4 this
Proprioception
The bending of light as it passes from 1 medium 2 another so they can focus the image on the retina(up side down)
When light hits a concave surface; they scatter or diverge
When light hits a convex surface; they get closer together or converge
The closer the object, the more the light rays have 2 bend 2 focus and the greater the curvature of the lens
Refraction
A photosensitive pigment in the rods; the greater the concentration-the greater the sensitivity 2 light
A substance that is very light sensitive. When light hits this, it is broken down in2 it’s components: opsin(a protein) and retinal(derivative of vitamin A)
Rhodopsin
Phenomenon in which some receptors responds when a stimulus is 1st applied but decreases w/prolonged stimulation
Sensory adaptation
Senses w/receptors localized in a particular area; taste, smell, vision and hearing
Special senses
Sensory receptors that detect changes in temperature and show rapid sensory adaption
Located immediately under the skin and r widely distributed throughout the body. Highest concentration is in the lips and least concentration is in the broad surfaces of the trunk
Stimulus: heat and cold (10X’s more cold receptors then heat receptors) extreme temperatures can stimulate pain receptors
Thermoreceptors
5 types; the basis 4 these types is the type of stimulus 2
which they r sensitive or have a low threshold
-chemoreceptor
-mechanoreceptors
-nociceptors
-thermoreceptors
-photoreceptors
Sense receptors
This only occurs after impulses have been interpreted by the brain
Steps involved:
1-there must b a stimulus
2-a receptor must detect a stimulus and create an action potential
3-the action potential(impulse) must b conducted 2 the CNS
4-w/in the CNS, the impulse must b translated in2 information
5-information must b interpreted in the CNS in2 an awareness or perception of the stimulus
Perceived sensation