Sensory receptors and discharge characteristics Flashcards
Are reflex arcs conscious?
No
Are reflex arcs stereotypic or variable?
Invariable, stereotypic
What are the 5 components of reflex arcs?
Receptor Effector fiber Central integration Afferent fiber Effector organ
What is the typical neurotransmitter in the reflex arc?
Glutamate
How are sensory receptors categorized?
Stimulus/modality
What are the 4 attributes of stimuli?
Modality
Location
Intensity
Time Course
What is modality?
Type of sensation i.e. touch
What is the importance of location of receptors?
Difference in receptive fields (superficial vs. deep)
Do superficial or deep receptors have more focused resolution?
Superficial
Does the nervous system use frequency or amplitude to convey information to successive cells?
frequency
What is the receptor class and type for vision?
Photoreceptor
Rods/cones
What is the receptor class and type for auditory?
Mechanoreceptor
Hair cells
What is the receptor class and type for vestibular (balance)?
Mechanoreceptor
Hair cells
What is the receptor class and type for somatosensory (touch, pain, temp)
Mechanoreceptor
Chemoreceptor
Thermoreceptor
Dorsal root ganglion
What is the receptor class and type for gustatory cells?
CHemoreceptor
Taste buds
What is the receptor class and type for olfactory cells?
CHemoreceptor
Olfactory sensory neurons
What nerve endings are present in touch receptors?
Alpha-beta
What are the superficial nerve receptors?
Merkel
Meissner
What are the deep nerve receptors?
Ruffini
Pacinian
What are the proprioception receptors?
Muscle spindle
GOlgi tendon organ
Joint receptors
Describe the organization of the somatic snesory system
Dorsal root ganglion cells project to medulla
Secondary cells project to thalamus
Tertiary cells project to somatic sensory cortex
What is the neurotansmitter in the medulla in the somatic sensory system?
GLutamate
What is the purpose of the homunculus
Shows # of nerve endings in area
What is the dermatome?
Associates a portion of body with a ganglion