Section 12.3 - Mechanoreception and Chemoreception Flashcards
Mechanoreceptors
Sensory receptors cells for both hearing and balance.
Outer Ear
Consists of the pinna, and ear canal.
Pinna
Outside flap of ear. Enhanced sound vibrations and focuses them into ear.
Auditory Canal
A tube that leads to the eardrum in the middle ear.
- Amplifies sound waves
What do hairs and earwax in auditory canal do?
They prevent dust, insects, bacteria, and other foreign materials from proceeding into the ear.
Middle Ear
Air filled space begins with eardrum (tympanum).
Eardrum (tympanum)
A round, elastic structure that vibrates in response to sound waves.
Ossicles
Three tiny, interconnected bones in the middle ear. Smallest bones.
Sends vibrations into the oval window.
Oval window
Membrane-covered opening in the wall of the inner ear
Eustachian tube
The middle ear is connected to the throat by this
Inner Ear
Consists of three interconnecting structures: the semicircular canals, the vestibule, and the cochlea.
- fluid filled
Cochlea
Used for hearing
Semicircular canals and vestibule
Contain sensors for balance
Organ of corti
The organ of hearing, in middle chamber of cochlea
Basilar membrane
Along the base of the organ of corti
- hair cells are attached to it.
- hair cells projections called stereocilia stick and into the tectorial membrane
What happens to the stereocilia?
They’re stimulated by the motion of fluid, they rub against the tectorial membrane. Action Potential produced.
Auditory nerve
Messages are sent to the brain through the auditory nerve
Round window
Vibrations dissipate here, end of cochlea.
Short nerve hair cells respond to ___ frequency
High, near my oval window
long nerve hair cells respond to _____ frequency
Lower
Amplitude
The amplitude of a sound wave is experienced as the intensity or volume of sound.
What does a loud noise result in
Loud noise = pressure that fluid in cochlea puts on hair cells of basilar membrane. Can damage stereocilia.
What is involved in balance and equilibrium?
The semicircular canals, utricle and saccule.
Rotational equilibrium
Head and body rotation
Semicircular Canals
Involved with in rotational equilibrium
Ampulla
Pockets at the base of each semicircular canal
What happens in the ampulla?
There are hair cells that stick into the jelly-like cupula
What happens when you rotate your head?
The fluid in the semicircular canals bend and move the stereocilia, causing the hair cells to send info to the brain.
Gravitational Equilibrium
The balance required when moving the head back or forth.
What’s involved in gravitational equilibrium
The utricle and the saccule
What do the utricle and the saccule contain?
Otoliths
Otoliths
Calcium carbonate stones in the utricle and saccule.
- pulled in the direction of gravity.
What happens when you’re head is upright and not moving?
Otoliths are pulled down, brushing past the stereocilia and proving info to the brain.
- the person is in an upright position
Proprioreceptors
A Mechanoreceptor involved in coordination
- found in muscles, tendons, joints
- send info about body position and limb angles.
