Ch 15 Sensory pathways and the somatic nervous system Flashcards
Describe the receptive field. (Figure 15-2)
The area receptive to stimuli monitored by a single receptor cell.
General sense receptors are typically the
dendrites of sensory neurons.
The conversion of a sensory input to a change in membrane potential in the receptor is known as
transduction
A reduction in sensitivity in the presence of a constant stimulus is referred to as
adaptation
How do we become aware of the sensation of touch?
General sensory receptors send information to the primary somatosensory cortex.
Receptor specificity can arise from __________.
the presence of accessory cells
the structure of the receptor cell
the presence of structures that protect the receptor cell
You cannot tell when your small intestines shift position as food enters because you do not have any ________ there.
proprioceptors
Receptors in your stomach that determine when food enters because the pH changes would be classified as
chemoreceptors
Mechanoreceptors that respond to changes in blood pressure are called
baroreceptors.
We are constantly bombarded by a variety of stimuli inside and outside of our bodies. Why are we not overwhelmed by sensory information?
A very tiny percentage of incoming sensory information is received by the cerebral cortex.
Pain is to ________ as cold is to _______
nociceptors; thermoreceptors
Receptive characteristics
- Specificity
- Field
- Tonic (slow) + phasic (fast)
- Transduction (convert stimulus to change in membrane potential which leads to AP)
Classification of receptor
• stimulus type => name usually define what it is
• location => where stimulus arise
What impact the specificity of receptors & how?
Structural complexity
• Free nerve endings
• connective tissue layers around nerve endings
• accessory structures
Define Receptive field?
It’s the size that localize the stimulus.
E.g: two-point discrimination
Generator potential
If receptor is sensory neuron and when depolarization reach threshold AP generated
Receptor potential
When receptor is other type of cell and not neuron in this case graded potential can alter the rate Of NTs release by sensory receptor cell
Key features of neural pathways
- multi-neural-> 2-3 to relay info
- Spatial relationships among fibers
- Most decussate (cross sides)
- Paired symmetrically both R & L sides
Immediate involuntary response
Processing centers in the spinal cord or brainstem may direct an immediate reflex response even before sensations reach the cerebral cortex.
Voluntary response
The voluntary response, which is not immediate, can moderate, enhance, or supplement the relatively simple involuntary reflexive response.