Chapter 46: Sensory Systems Flashcards
first step of sensory transduction
change in the membrane potential of the receptor cell in response to specific type of stimulus
receptor potential
change in the membrane potential of a receptor cell
ionotropic sensory receptors
mechanoreceptors, thermoreceptor, electroreceptors
metabotropic sensory receptors
chemoreceptor, photoreceptor
adaptation
enables an animal to ignore background or unchanging conditions while remaining sensitive to changes and new information
chemoreceptors
receptor proteins that bind to specific molecules and are responsible of smell and taste
olfaction
the sense of smell, dependent on chemoreceptors
olfactory bulb
olfactory integration area of the brain
odorant
molecule in the environment that binds to and activates an olfactory receptor protein on the cilia of olfactory receptor neurons
pheromone
specialized chemical signal used for communication among individuals of the same species
gustation
sense of taste, dependent on taste buds (chemoreceptors)
mechanoreceptors
respond to mechanical forces
merkel’s discs
adapt rather slowly and provide continuous information about anything touching the skin. most important tactile receptors
meissner’s corpuscles
very sensitive, adapt rapidly, provide information about changes in things touching the skin
ruffini endings
deeper in the skin, adapt slowly and are good at providing information about vibrating stimuli of low frequency
pacinian corpuscles
adapt rapidly, provide information about vibrating stimuli of higher frequencies
muscle spindles
stretch receptors. modified muscle cells embedded in connective tissue inside muscles and innervated by sensory neurons
golgi tendon organ
type of mechanoreceptor.
found in tendons and ligaments
provides information about the force generated by a contracting muscle
hair cells
mechanoreceptor for the vertebrate auditory system and vestibular system. ( Sound perceiving and equilibrium-maintaining systems)
stereocilia
fingerlike projections of the cell membrane stiffened by cross-linked actin filaments
tympanic membrane
covering the end of the auditory canal
vibrates in response to pressure waves traveling down the canal, converting the pressure waves to physical forces in the middle ear
eustachian tube
filled with air, pressure equilibrates between the middle ear and the enviornment
ossicles
composed of the malleus, incus, and stapes
transmits the vibrations of the tympanic membrane to oval window
oval window
receives vibrations from stapes. pressure is now 20x greater than at tympanic membrane