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KNES259 > Sensory Physiology > Flashcards

Sensory Physiology Flashcards

1
Q

General senses

A

Touch, temp, pressure, pain, itch

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2
Q

Special senses

A

Vision, hearing, smell, taste

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3
Q

Visceral senses

A

pH, osmolarity, chemoreceptors

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4
Q

Proprioceptors

A

Stretch, position, over-contraction

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5
Q

Two types of sensory receptors

A

-Specialized endings of neuron
-Separate cell that signals to afferent neuron

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6
Q

Receptor field

A

Area of skin that a sensory receptor innervates

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7
Q

Characteristics of sensory receptors

A

-Modality
-Intensity
-Adaptation
-Localization

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8
Q

Modality

A

-Receptor type
-Each responds to one type of stimulus only (except pain)
Ex: chemoreceptors, mechanoreceptors, proprioceptors, thermoceptors

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9
Q

How do sensory receptors code for intensity?

A

-Coded by frequency of APs
-More APs = more intense
-Higher stimulus (pressure) also stimulates more fibres

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10
Q

Adaptation

A

-When the neuron stops sending APs in response to a continuous stimulus
-Over time the frequency decreases

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11
Q

Phasic or fast-adapting receptors

A

-Responds to a change in stimulus
ex: temp, touch, smell

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12
Q

Tonic or slow-adapting receptors

A

-Continues to send APs in response to constant stimulus
-APs may go away slowly or not at all
ex: pain, vision, proprioceptors

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13
Q

What do proprioceptors detect?

A

Changes in position and movement of body

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14
Q

What sized receptor fields are found in sensitive areas such as the finger?

A

Very small

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15
Q

Acuity

A

-Ability to distinguish between two stimulus points

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16
Q

Factors that affect acuity

A

-Receptor field size (smaller = better)
-Receptor field overlap (more = better)
-Area of representation in cortex (more = better)
-Lateral inhibition (increases contrast and acuity)

17
Q

Lateral inhibition

A

-When neuron sends inhibitory messages to neighbours
-Narrows down the search for where the stimulus occurred by inhibiting surrounding neurons

18
Q

How is pain related to memory?

A

-Involves limbic system, which gets an emotional reaction, creating an emotional memory (sensitization) and behavioural change

19
Q

Nociceptors

A

-Pain receptors
-Do not adapt to sustained stimulation

20
Q

Cytokines

A

-Lower nociceptor’s threshold, so we are more likely to get a pain AP
-Present in inflammation response
-Hyper-algesia (more sensitive to pain)
ex: prostaglandins, bradykinin, histamines)

21
Q

3 types of nocireceptors

A
  1. Mechanical nociceptors: respond to damage such as cutting, crushing, or pinching
  2. Thermal nociceptors: respond to temperature extremes
  3. Polymodal nocicpetors: respond equally to all kinds of damaging stimuli, creates secondary throbbing response that sticks around
22
Q

Fast pain vs slow pain

A

Fast pain:
-Mechanical or thermal nociceptors
-A-delta fibres
-Easily localized
-Occurs first

Slow pain:
-Polymodel nociceptors
-C fibers
-Dull and aching
-Poorly localized
-Occurs second, persists for longer

23
Q

Two best known pain NT

A

-Substance P: activates ascending pathways
-Glutamate: major excitatory NT

24
Q

What is the brain’s build in analgesic system?

A

-Suppresses transmission in pain pathways
-Uses opiates in descending pathways

25
Q

Referred pain

A

-The sensation of pain at a site other than the injured or diseased tissue
-Critical to diagnosis
-Occurs on skin
-Brain interprets pain from organs as pain coming from skin because the two nerves are so close together

26
Q

What do chemoreceptors do?

A

-Help with smell and taste
-Binding of molecules will trigger GPs and APs

27
Q

Which nerves work for smell and taste?

A

Smell: olfactory nerve
Taste: glossopharyngeal nerve

28
Q

What is the role of mucous in smell?

A

Scent molecules must be dissolved in mucous made by support cells

29
Q

What is the lifespan of scent receptors?

A

2 months

30
Q

Which system does smell input to?

A

Limbic - emotional response and memories

31
Q

Taste buds are the receptors for _____

A

Taste

32
Q

Life span of taste buds

A

10 days

33
Q

5 types of taste

A

-Salty
-Sweet
-Sour
-Bitter
-Umani

34
Q

Gustatory transduction

A

-Involves the interaction of tastant molecules in saliva with the receptor cells in the taste buds on the papillae of the tongue
-These receptor cells undergo only GPs during this process

35
Q

Facial nerve innervates which part of the tongue? Which tastes?

A

Front 2/3
Salty and sweet

36
Q

Glossopharygeal nerve innervates which part of the tongue? Which tastes?

A

Back 1/3
Sour and bitter

KNES259 (11 decks)

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