Introduction to Sensory Receptors and Sensory Neurones Flashcards
what does the somatosensory system mediate the sensory modalities of?
fine discriminatory touch and stretch (mechanosensation)
joint and muscle position sense (proprioception)
temperature (thermosensation)
pain (nociception)
itch (pruriception)
what is the role of the exteroceptive division of the somatosensory system?
cutaneous senses - registers information from the surface of the body by numerous receptor types
what is the role of the proprioceptive division of the somatosensory system?
sensors in muscle, tendon and joints - monitors posture and movement
what is the role of the enteroceptive division of somatosensory system?
reports upon the internal state of the body and is closely related to autonomic function
which order neurone is located in PNS?
1st order neurone (primary sensory afferent)
where is cell body of 1st order neurone found?
dorsal root ganglia (innervation of limbs, trunk, posterior head)
or
cranial ganglia (innervation of anterior head)
which order neurones are located in CNS?
2nd order neurone (projection neurone)
3rd order neurone (projection neurone)
as well as the order neurones, what else is located in CNS?
somatosensory cortex
where is cell body of 2nd order neurone located?
dorsal horn of spinal cord
or
brainstem nuclei
where is cell body of 3rd order neurone located?
thalamic nuclei
where is cell body of somatosensory cortex located?
primary somatosensory cortex (S-I)
stimulis (mechanical, thermal or chemical) opens cation-selective ion channels in peripheral termination of primary sensory afferent - what type of response does this elicit?
depolarising receptor potential
the amplitude of receptor potential is graded and is proportional to?
stimulus intensity
what type of action potential does supra-threshold receptor potential trigger?
all or nothing
conducted by axon, at a frequency proportional to its amplitude
action potentials arriving at the central terminal cause what kind of release of neurotransmitter on to second order neurones?
graded
when is there a greatest sensitivity to change when plotted against amplitude of receptor change?
at low stimulus strength
what is the definition of modality?
what type of stimulus excites the sensory receptor
what is the definition of threshold?
what intensity of the stimulus is required for excitation of sensory receptor
what is the definition of adaption rate?
does the sensory unit discharge action potentials continuously during stimulus, or does it respond preferentially or to a changing stimulus
eg when going from brightly lit area to dim room, eyes take a while to adapt due to stimulus change
what is the definition of conduction velocity?
how rapid does the sensory unit conduct action potentials along its axon
for the modality of touch, pressure and vibration, what is the:
a) stimulus?
b) sensory unit?
a) mechanical forces acting on skin
b) skin mechanoreceptors
for the modality of proprioception, what is the
a) stimulus?
b) sensory unit?
a) mechanical forces acting on joints and muscles
b) joint and muscle mechanoreceptors
for the modality of temperature, what is the
a) stimulus?
b) sensory unit?
a) heat (thermal energy)
b) cold and warm thermoreceptors
for the modality of pain, what is the
a) stimulus?
b) sensory unit?
a) strong mechanical force on skin, viscera. Heat on skin, mucous membranes and viscera
b) mechanical, thermal and polymodal nociceptors