Chapter 9 the senses Flashcards
What does the sensory pathway consist of?
Receptors, sensory neurons, sensory tracts and sensory areas
What do the receptors do?
detect changes (stimuli) and generate impulses
What do the sensory neurons do?
transmit impulses from receptors to the CNS
What do the sensory tracts do?
white matter in the spinal cord or brain that transmits impulses to a specific part of the brain
What are the sensory areas?
most of are in the cerebral cortex. they feel and interpret sensations
What is projection?
sensation seems to come from the area where the receptors where stimulated even though its the brain that truly feels the sensation
What is localization?
the ability to identify the part of the body receiving the sensation
learned in infancy
What is intensity?
the degree to which a sensation is felt
a strong stimulus affects more receptors, more impulses are sent to the brain and are interpreted as a more intense sensation
What is contrast?
the effect of a previous or simultaneous sensation on a current sensation as the brain compares them
What is adaptation?
becoming unaware of a continuing stimulus
if the stimulus remains constant, there is no change for receptors to detect
What is after-image?
the sensation remains in the consiousness after the stimulus has stopped; often true for sensations of greater intensity
What is free-nerve endings?
receptors for heat, cold, itch, and pain
what is encapsulated nerve endings?
receptors for touch and pressure
Where are sensory areas located?
parietal lobes; largest areas are in the hands and face
What is neuropathy?
damage to nerves that impairs sensation
What is referred pain?
visceral pain that is felt as cutaneous pain
common pathways in the CNS carry both cutaneous and visceral impulses
the brain usually projects sensation to the more frequent source of impulses
What do stretch receptors in muscles do?
they detect stretching which enable the brain to create a mental picture of the muscles
Where are the sensory areas for conscious muscle located?
parietal lobes
Why does the cerebellum use unconscious muscle sense?
to coordinate voluntary movement
What are chemoreceptors for taste?
are in tastebuds on the tongue
detect chemicals in solution in the mouth
touch receptors detect textures
What are the 5 basic tastes?
sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and savory;
foods stimulate combination of receptors
pain receptors for “hot food”
where are the impulses from the taste buds transmitted?
by the facial and glossopharyngeal nerves to the taste areas in the parietal-temporal cortex
some adaptation does occur
what are chemoreceptors for smell?
olfactory receptors in upper nasal cavities, detect vaporized chemicals
how are olfactory receptors transmitted?
olfactory nerves through the ethmoid bone to the olfactory bulbs to olfactory areas in the temporal lobes
Are taste and smell intertwined?
yes
Hunger and thirst may be called what?
visceral sensations
Receptors for hunger?
in hypothalamus, detect changes in GI hormones and nutrient levels in the blood
hunger is projected to the stomach
adaption does occur at first
Receptors for thirst?
in hypothalamus, osmoreceptors detect changes in body water;
thirst is projected to the mouth and pharynx
adaptation does not occur
What do the eyelashes and eyelids do?
spread tears and keep dust out of eyes