Ch16: sensory system Flashcards
auditory ossicles
3 specially shaped bones in the middle ear that anchor the eardrum to the tympanic cavity and that transmit vibrations to the inner ear
auricle
funnel-like structure leading from the external ear to the external auditory meatus; also called pinna
choroid
thin posterior membrane in the middle layer of the eye
ciliary body
thick anterior membrane in the middle layer of the eye
cochlea
snail-shaped structure in the inner ear that contains the organ of Corti
cones
specialized receptor cells in the retina that perceive color and bright light
conjunctiva (pl., conjunctivae)
mucous membrane lining the eyelid
cornea
transparent anterior section of the eyeball that bends light in a process called refraction
decibel
measure of the intensity of sound
ear
organ of hearing
eardrum
oval, semitransparent membrane that moves in response to sound waves and produces vibrations
endolymph
fluid inside the membranous labyrinth
equilibrium
sense of balance
eustachian
tube that connects the middle ear to the pharynx
eye
organ of sight
eyerbrow
clump of hair, usually about a half an inch above the eye, that helps to keep foreign particles from entering the eye
eyelashes
group of hair protruding from the eye of the eyelid; helps to keep foreign particles from entering the eye
fovea centralis
depression in the center of the macula lutea; perceives sharpest images
eyelid
moveable covering over the eye
hearing
ability to perceive sound
incus
one of the 3 auditory ossicles; the anvil
iris
colored part of the eye; contains muscles that expand and contract in response to light
lacrimal glands
glands that secrete liquid to moisten the eyes and produce tears
lens
colorless, flexible transparent body behind the iris
macula
inner ear structure containing hairlike sensors that move to maintain equilibrium
macula lutea
small, yellowish area located in the center of the retina, which has a depression called the fovea centralis
malleus
one of the 3 auditory ossicles; the hammer
membranous labyrinth
one of the 2 tubes that make up the semicircular canals
neuroretina
thick layer of nervous tissue in the retina
olfactory organs
organs at the top of the nasal cavity containing olfactory receptors
optic nerve
nerve that transmits nerve impulses from the eye to the brain
organ of Corti
structure on the basilar membrane with hairlike receptors that receive and transmit sounds waves
osseus labyrinth
one of the 2 tubes that make up the semicircular canals
otoliths
small calcifications in the inner ear that help to maintain balance
papillae
small, raised structures that contain the taste buds
perilymph
liquid secreted by the walls of the osseus labyrinth
pinna
auricle
pupil
black circular center of the eye; opens and closes when muscles in the iris expand and contract in response to light
refraction
process of bending light rays
retina
oval, light-sensitive membrane in the interior layer of the eye; decodes light waves and transmits information to the brain
rods
specialized receptor cells in the retina that perceive black to white shades
sclera (pl., sclerae)
thick, tough membrane in the outer eye layer; supports eyeball structure
semicircular canals
structures in the inner ear important to equilibrium
sensory receptors
specialized tissue containing cells that can receive stimuli
sensory system
organs or tissue that perceive and receive stimuli from outside or within the body
sight
ability to see
smell
ability to perceive odors
stapes (pl., stapedes)
one of the 3 auditory ossicles; the stirrup
taste
ability to perceive the qualities of ingested matter
taste buds
organs that sense the taste of food
taste cells
specialized receptor cells within the taste buds
tears
moisture secreted from the lacrimal glands
touch
ability to perceive sensation on the skin