Sensory System Flashcards
Sensory receptor cell
-responsible for detecting a specific stimuli from an external or internal environment and converting it into an electrical signal
Sensory organ
Ears, Ears, Nose, Tongue, Skin
Sensory transduction
sensory receptors convert stimuli into electrical signals via nerves in the brain
chemoreceptors
-detect chemical changes
-taste, smell, blood Oxygen levels
-located on taste buds for taste and on olfactory epithelium for smell
mechanoreceptor
- detect mechanical changes
-pressure, vibration, and stretch
-located on skin, inner ear, and muscles
photoreceptor
-detect light
-located on retina
electroreceptor
-receptors allow certain animals to detect electrical fields in their environment.
-Important in aquatic environments, where electrical fields are more easily transmitted through the air
-help animals detect presence, movement, and behavior of other organisms
-used for communications, hunting, and navigation
thermoreceptor
-detect changed in temperature
nociceptor
-specialized sensory receptors responsible for for detecting and transmitting signals related to pain
- mechanical nociceptors are released during tissue damage or inflammation like touching something too hot or cold
-chemical nociceptors are activated by chemicals released during tissue injury or inflammation
lateral inhibition
- changes edge and boarder detection (increases contrast) by reducing excitation of adjacent neurons
-Increases the firing rate of stimuli
-filters out noise
-not looking but still knowing where you are being touched
G-Protein coupled receptor (DPCR)
-indirect signaling via 2nd messenger
-Photoreceptors (rods and cone), olfactory receptors, and sone taste receptors
G-Protein
-mediates cellular responses to extracellular signals (hormones, neurotransmitters, and sensory stimuli).
Olfactory epithelium
-odorants are diffused into the olfactory epithelium
-contains chemo-sensitive hair and olfactory sensory neurons
-at top of nasal cavity
olfactory sensory neuron
-olfactory sensory nuerons sense odorants that bind to specific receptors on chemosensitive hairs that project into nares
chemo-sensitive hair
-sensory cells found in various part of the body that detect chemical signals primarily for taste and balance
taste bud
-consists of about 50 long spindle shaped receptors
-packaged with supporting cells in an arrangement (like an orange slice)
taste sensory cell
gustatory receptor cells
microvilli
-tiny, finger-like projections that extend form surface of sensory cells.
-on taste buds important for absorption
5 flavors (which are G-protein coupled)
-Salty
-Sour
-Sweet-G-protien coupled
-Bitter-G-protien coupled
-Savory -G-protien coupled
trigeminal nerve
-provides more detail
- spicy/hot, carbonation, menthol/cool sensation