Lesson 6 - Sensory Physiology

Question 1

Who was the first scientist to classify the five senses: sight, hearing, taste, smell, and touch?

Answer 1

Aristotle

Question 2

This is a branch of biology that studies the functions of sensory organs and their ability to process stimuli from the external environment.

Answer 2

Sensory physiology

Question 3

Fill in the Blanks:

One’s sense is a system that consists of a __________ that respond to a specific kind of __________, and that correspond to a defined region within the brain where the signals are received and interpreted.

Answer 3

Sensory cell type; Physical energy

Question 4

What are the 10 senses?

Answer 4

1. Sight
2. Hearing
3. Taste
4. Smell
5. Touch
6. Joint Position
7. Vibration
8. Temperature
9. Pain
10. Proprioception

Question 5

At the cellular level, mechanoreceptors are activated by __________

Answer 5

Changes in pressure

Question 6

At the cellular level, photoreceptors are activated by __________

Answer 6

Light

Question 7

At the cellular level, chemoreceptors are activated by __________

Answer 7

Chemicals

Question 8

At the cellular level, thermoreceptors are activated by __________

Answer 8

Changes in temperature

Question 9

At the cellular level, nociceptors are activated by __________

Answer 9

Pain caused by extremes of the other senses

Question 10

This is a process by which a sensory system becomes insensitive to continuous stimulation

Answer 10

Adaptation

Question 11

In adaptation, __________ is the only sense that does not adapt.

Answer 11

Nociceptors, because it is essential for survival.

Question 12

This responds to varying intensities and frequencies of pressure.

Answer 12

Tactition (Touch)

Question 13

Where are tactile receptors for touch found?

Answer 13

Skin, muscles, and viscera

Question 14

This is found in hairy and glabrous skin on the fingertips. It is able to detect corners, edges, and curves.

Answer 14

Merkel’s disc

Question 15

This is found in hairy skin for stretching.

Answer 15

Ruffini nerve endings

Question 16

This is found in glabrous skin (palm and finger). It is the most sensitive.

Answer 16

Pacinian corpuscles

Question 17

This is found in glabrous skin and is sensitive to dynamic changes in the skin.

Answer 17

Meissner Corpuscle

Question 18

This is a perceived sensation in response to stimuli that cause tissue damage.

Answer 18

Nociception (Pain)

Question 19

Where are nociceptors found?

Answer 19

Skin, muscles, joints, and viscera

Question 20

What are the two types of pain?

Answer 20

1. Fast Pain
2. Slow Pain

Question 21

This pain is carried by myelinated Type A-delta fibers.

Answer 21

Fast pain

Question 22

This pain is carried to unmyelinated Type C fibers.

Answer 22

Slow pain

Question 23

Where are temperature receptors found?

Answer 23

In the subcutaneous layer of the skin

Question 24

Cold receptors are sensitive to temperatures __________.

Answer 24

Below 37ºC

Question 25

Warm receptors are sensitive to temperatures ____________.

Answer 25

Between 35ºC to 45ºC

Question 26

This is referred to as the body’s internal thermostat.

Answer 26

Hypothalamus

Question 27

Gustation has at least four types of taste bud receptors. What are they?

Answer 27

1. Sweet 2. Salt 3. Sour 4. Bitter

Question 28

The ‘umami’ receptor detects the amino acid, __________.

Answer 28

Glutamate (Glu)

Question 29

Taste is a combination of what senses?

Answer 29

1. Taste receptors 2. Olfactory receptors 3. Touch (mouth feel) 4. Temperature 5. Sight

Question 30

Where are olfactory receptors located?

Answer 30

In the roof of the nasal cavity

Question 31

What is the process of olfaction?

Answer 31

1. Odor molecule binds to olfactory receptor 2. Action potential is triggered 3. AP is carried to the brain

Question 32

Hearing is also known as ___________.

Answer 32

Audition

Question 33

It is the sense of sound perception.

Answer 33

Hearing

Question 34

What is the normal range of hearing?

Answer 34

20 to 20,000 Hz

Question 35

This is the detection of sound waves as vibrations by the body.

Answer 35

Tactition

Question 36

What are the steps of hearing?

Answer 36

1. Stimulus 2. Vibration of tympanic membrane 3. Detection of vibration by hair cells in the inner ear

Question 37

What are the two tests for hearing?

Answer 37

1. Weber’s test 2. Rinne’s test

Question 38

In the Rinne’s test, this is performed by pressing the base of the tuning fork against the MASTOID PORTION and noting the duration that the sound can be perceived by the subject.

Answer 38

Bone conduction

Question 39

In __________, immediately place the prongs of the fork 2 cm away from the EXTERNAL AUDITORY MEATUS the ear once no sound is perceived in bone conduction

Answer 39

Air conduction

Question 40

What is considered a normal result in the Rinne’s Test?

Answer 40

AC > BC in both ears

Question 41

What is considered a normal result in the Weber’s test?

Answer 41

Midline

Question 42

This is referred to as the perception of balance.

Answer 42

Equilibrioception

Question 43

Equilibrioception is controlled by?

Answer 43

1. Vestibular system in the inner ear 2. Cerebellum

Question 44

What are the two components of the vestibular system?

Answer 44

1. Semicircular canals 2. Utricle and saccule

Question 45

Semicircular canals contain fluid known as __________ that detects rotatory movements of the head.

Answer 45

Endolymph

Question 46

The utricle and saccule are __________ that detect linear acceleration and the effects of gravity.

Answer 46

Otolith organs

Question 47

This aids in the detection of gravity.

Answer 47

Calcium carbonate crystals

Question 48

This is the perception of body position

Answer 48

Proprioception

Question 49

This is the ability to detect electromagnetic energy.

Answer 49

Vision

Question 50

What is the visible spectrum?

Answer 50

380 nm to 750 nm

Question 51

The brain interprets the image collected by the __________ in the eye as ‘sight’

Answer 51

Photoreceptor cells

Question 52

This is responsible for color differentiation and found in the Fovea of the eye.

Answer 52

Cones

Question 53

This is responsible for light and dark contrast.

Answer 53

Rods

Question 54

This is the region with highest visual acuity, in which cones are predominantly found.

Answer 54

Fovea

Question 55

This is known as the blind spot due to the lack of receptors. It is also where the nerves and retinal blood vessels enter and exit.

Answer 55

Optic disc

Question 56

This is referred to as extremely rapid eye movement

Answer 56

Saccadic masking Remember from PHYSIOL: fast movements = saccades

Question 57

TRUE OR FALSE: During the rapid movement, the optic nerve ceases to transmit visual information

Answer 57

TRUE

Question 58

What are the corresponding peak sensitivities of each cone? Red - Green - Blue -

Answer 58

Red - 564 nm Green - 534 nm Blue - 420 nm

Question 59

This occurs when people lack one or more sets of cones OR have cones that respond to different peak frequencies

Answer 59

Color blindness

Question 60

What are the four types of color blindness?

Answer 60

1. Red-green color blindness 2. Yellow-blue color blindness 3. Full color blindness 4. Blue color blindness

Question 61

This type of color blindness is the most common congenital color blindness.

Answer 61

Red-green color blindness

Question 62

These two types of color blindness are rare.

Answer 62

Full color blindness and blue color blindness

Question 63

What is the altered sensitivity and complete deficiency in red cones?

Answer 63

Protanomaly and protanopia, respectively

Question 64

What is the altered sensitivity and complete deficiency in green cones?

Answer 64

Deutanomaly and deutanopia, respectively

Question 65

What is the altered sensitivity and complete deficiency in blue cones?

Answer 65

Not seen and tritanopia, respectively