Sensory organs

Question 1

Normal changes (optical)

Answer 1

• presbyopia: inability to focus or accommodate due to reduced elasticity of the lens and stiffening of the lens muscle fibers
• narrowed visual field
• pupil is less responsive to light
• altered blood supply of the retina, which can cause macular degeneration
• more opaque lens
• decreased pupil size
• depth perception becomes distorted
• visual acuity decreases due to decreased pupil size, scatter in the cornea & lens, opacification of the lens & vitreous, and loss of photoreceptor cells

Question 2

Normal changes (auditory)

Answer 2

• presbycusis: progressive hearing loss
• atrophy of hair cells in the Organ of Corti
• tympanic membrane sclerosis & atrophy
• increased cerumen & keratin concentration
• decreased blood supply

Question 3

Normal changes (gustatory & olfaction)

Answer 3

• decreased sensory cells in the nasal lining & fewer cells in the olfactory bulb of the brain
• men tend to experience a greater loss of smell than women
• the reduction in the sense of smell would also alter the sense of taste
• atrophy of the tongue
• the ability to detect salt is the most affected than other types of tastes
• reduced saliva production, poor oral hygiene, meds and conditions such as sinusitis can also affect taste

Question 4

Sinusitis

Answer 4

inflammation of the sinuses

Question 5

Normal changes (touch)

Answer 5

reduction in number of touch receptors

reduced structural integrity of the touch receptors

tactile sensation (identifying touch, pressure, pain, temperature and texture) is reduced, which can cause misperceptions of the environment and safety risks