physiology exam 2 Flashcards
sensory system
part of NS consisting of sensory receptors that receive stimuli, neural pathways to conduct info, and brain to process info
may or may not lead to lead to conscious awareness of stimuli
(DONT notice BP changes)
sensation
stimulus info reaches consciousness
perception
awareness of sensation
sensation ex
feel pain
sensory processing
Transduction of stimulus energy into graded potentials and then APs in afferent neurons
Pattern of APs is a code that provides info about stimulus such as location, intensity and input type
Communicate with the brain to process info
May determine reflexive efferent responses, perception, memory storage, assignment of emotional significance
sensory receptors
at peripheral ends of afferent neurons change this info into graded potentials that can initiate APs to travel to CNS
adequate stimulus
type of stimulus which a particular receptor responds in normal functioning
a receptor may respond at low threshold to other stimuli
receptor
2 kinds
1. sensory receptor at peripheral end of afferent neurons trigger graded potentials to initiate APs
2. plasma membrane proteins that binds chemical messengers and trigger signal
mechanoreceptors
respond to mechanical stimulus like pressure or stretch
- resp. for touch and muscle tension
stimuli alter the permeability of ion channels on receptor membrane, changing membrane potential Vm
thermoreceptors
detect cold warmth sensations
photoreceptors
respond to wave length
chemoreceptors
respond to binding of chemicals to membrane
smell and taste
nociceptors
sense pain due to tissue damage
can be activated by variety of stimuli (heat, chemical, mechanical)
sensory transduction
process a stimuli is transformed into electrical response
Regardless of OG form the signal that activates sensory receptors, the info must be translated into graded potentials or APs
- involves open/closing of ion channels
- gating of channels allows a change in ion flux across receptor membrane and produces graded potential called receptor potential
afferent neuron receptor potential for sensory transduction
receptor membrane region where initial ion channel changes does NOT generate APs
- local current flows a short distance. along axon to voltage gated ion channels and can generate APs
- usually 1st node of ranvier if myelinated
receptor potential
like graded potentials, response to intensities and diminishes as it travels
receptor potential when receptor membrane is on a separate cell
receptor potential releases NT
- NT diffuses across cleft ~ receptor/afferent neuron and binds receptor protein on afferent neuron
- junction is a synapse
- NT binds binding site generates graded potential in afferent neuron
- analogous to EPSP (or IPSP)
true of all graded potentials
magnitude of receptor potential or graded potential decreases with dist. from origin
graded to AP
if intensity of depolarization at 1st excitable node of ranvier in afferent neuron is large enough to bring membrane to threshold, APs are generated and propagate along afferent
as long as receptor potential keeps afferent neuron depolarized to level at/above threshold, APs fire and propagate
magnitude of receptor potential
determines frequency of APs,
does NOT determine amplitude of APs
factor control magnitude of receptor potential
stimulus strength, rate of change of stimulus strength, temporal summation of successive receptor potentials and
adaptation
adaptation
decrease in receptor sensitivity which results in decrease in AP freq. in afferent neuron despite continuous presence of stimulus
slowly adapting receptors
tonic
maintain persistent or slowly decaying receptor potential during a constant stimulus
initiating APs in afferent neurons for duration of stimulus
tonic receptors
slowly adapting receptors
maintain persistent or slowly decaying receptor potential during a constant stimulus
initiating APs in afferent neurons for duration of stimulus
rapidly adapting receptors
phasic receptors
generate receptor potential and APs at onset of stimulus but quickly cease responding
adaptation may be so quick that only 1 AP is generated
some receptors may only initiate APs at onset of stimulus or w/ burst at beginning of stimulus
phasic receptors
rapidly adapting receptors
generate receptor potential and APs at onset of stimulus but quickly cease responding
adaptation may be so quick that only 1 AP is generated
coding
conversion of stimulus energy into signal that conveys relevant sensory info to CNS
- begins at receptive neurons in PNS
relevant info:
- type of input
- intensity
-location of body
sensory unit
single afferent neurons with receptor endings
- the peripheral end of an afferent neuron has many branches, each with a receptor
receptive field
area of body that leads to activity in particular afferent neuron when stimulated
usually overlap other afferent neurons receptive fields so multiple sensory units activate
stimulus type
modality - temp, sound, pressure, taste
given receptors are particularly sensitive to 1 modality bc of single transduction mechs and ion channels in membrane
modality
stimulus type - temp, sound, pressure
receptive fields overlap
a single stimulus can simultaneously give rise to sensations of different modalities
EX: ice = touch and cold
stimulus intensity
APs all same amplitude
FREQ. of APs
increased stimulus strength = larger receptor potential = more frequent APs
as stimulus strength increases, adj. receptors are activated = summation of local currents
stronger stimuli affect larger area and can activate other afferent neurons
recruitment
activating receptors on additional adj. afferent neurons given strong stimulus
stimulus location
coded by site of stimulated receptor
APs from each receptor travel unique pathways to specific regions of CNS assoc. w/ specific modalities and locations = labeled lines
labeled lines
APs from each stimulated receptor travel unique pathways to specific regions of CNS assoc. w/ specific modalities and locations
acuity
precision of locate/discerning stimuli from adj. one depends on convergence of neural input
greater convergence = less acuity
factors affecting acuity:
1. size of receptive field
2. density of sensory units
3. amount of overlap in nearby receptive fields
neuron w/ small receptive field can be located most precisely but receptive field overlap can help with localization of stimuli
acuity example
2 pt discrimination
easy to distinguish stimuli applied to skin on lips were sensory units are small and numerous
hard on back w/ few sensory units that are large and spaced
importance of receptive field overlap
afferent neurons respond most vigorously to stimuli applied directly at center of its receptive field bc there is greatest receptor density
decreased response at periphery
firing freq. of afferent neuron related to stimuli strength
receptor endings of different afferent neurons overlap, a stimulus will trigger activity in 1+ sensory unit.
high freq. EX
moderately intense stimulus was applied at center of receptive field OR
strong stimulus was applied at periphery
Therefore, neither intensity nor the location of stimulus can be detected w/ single afferent neuron.
lateral inhibition
enables localization of stimulus site
info from receptors at edge of stimulus is INHIBITED compared to info from afferent neurons at the center
afferent neurons in center have higher firing freq.
- reduces # of APs
lateral inhibition EX
press in a pencil on skin
- can localize point precisely
lateral inhibition removes info from peripheral regions
lateral inhibition importance
in retina for visual acuity