Sensory systems Flashcards
Exteroceptor
Receptor receiving stimuli from outside the body.
Interoceptor
Receptor receiving stimuli from inside the body.
Proprioceptor
Receptor detecting the position of the body and the state of the muscles, tendons and joints.
Contact receptor
The source of the stimulus has to be in contact with the receptor to elicit a response.
Telereceptor
The source of the stimulus is distant from the receptor,.
Stimulus threshold
Minimal energy of stimulus that changes action potential frequency in the primary sensory neuron.
Stimulus adaptation
The process in which the effect of the stimulus on the receptor decreases in time.
Receptive field
Part of the environment or body (visual field, skin, etc), from which the activity of the examined element of the sensory system can be changed.
Receptor potential
Membrane potential change of the sensory cell in response to the stimulus.
Topography
The spatial arrangement of the sensory cells is mapped throughout the sensory system.
Dermatome
Strip-like part of the skin innervated by one spinal segment.
Homunculus
Drawing indicating the representation of different body parts on the somatosensory cortex proportionally to the number of recepors, thus causing distortion of the image.
Weber-Fencher’s law
Exponential equation showing the relationship between stimulus and response in sensory systems.