lecture 10 - body senses

Question 1

what are the 3 main somatosenses?

Answer 1

Cutaneous sense, Organic (internal) sense
and Vestibular Sense

Question 2

what is Vestibular Sense?

Answer 2

Perception of the body’s position, movement and balance.

Question 3

what is cutaneous sense?

Answer 3

Sensitivity to stimuli that involve the skin. e.g. pressure, vibration, heating/cooling, and events that cause tissue damage (i.e. pain).

Question 4

what is organic sense?

Answer 4

A sense modality that arises from receptors located within the inner organs of the body and muscles

Question 5

what is proprioception?

Answer 5

ability to sense position of the body and limbs

Question 6

what is the vestibular system made up of?

Answer 6

three semicircular canals and the vestibular sacs

Question 7

what is the vestibular system?

Answer 7

The vestibular system is filled with fluid
The position or movement of fluid within the vestibular system stimulates hair cells (mechanoreceptors)
Position of fluid in the vestibular sacs detects static head tilt and linear acceleration
Movement of fluid in the semicircular canals detects head rotation movements

Question 8

what are the layers in the skin?

Answer 8

epidermis - protective barrier against pathogens , dermis - connective tissue, capillaries, hair follicles and sensory receptors and hypodermis - subcutaneous tissue/fat

Question 9

what are free nerve endings?

Answer 9

Respond to damaging or potentially damaging stimuli

Question 10

what are merkel receptors?

Answer 10

Fires continuously in response to pressure
Responsible for sensing fine details, shape and texture

Question 11

what are meissner corpuscle?

Answer 11

Fires only when a stimulus is first applied and removed
Responsible for controlling hand grip and sensing motion across the skin

Question 12

what is the ruffini cylinder?

Answer 12

Fires continuously in response to stimulation
Associated with perceiving stretching of the skin

Question 13

what is the pacinian corpuscle?

Answer 13

Fires only when a stimulus is first applied and removed
Associated with sensing rapid vibrations and fine texture

Question 14

who was Ian Waterman?

Answer 14

Damaged the dorsal column (medial lemniscal) pathway in his spinal cord
As a result, he could no longer sense touch, pressure or proprioception
Was unable to move and had to relearn to walk and live independently

Question 15

what is tactile acuity?

Answer 15

The extent to which we can distinguish between two points of tactile stimulation