Special Senses Flashcards
How can our receptors be classified?
Location, Structural Complexity, & Type of Stimulus
What are the 5 classes of receptors?
Mechanoreceptors, Thermoreceptors, Photoreceptors, Chemoreceptors, Nocireceptors,
What type of receptor reacts to light?
Photoreceptor
What type of receptor reacts to temperature?
Thermoreceptor
What type of receptor reacts to taste?
Chemoreceptor
What type of receptor reacts to mechanical forces?
Mechanoreceptors
What type of receptor reacts to pain?
Nociceptors
What is adaptation?
This is when a receptor becomes less and less responsive to stimuli, which means that it adapts to it.
What type of receptor does not typically adapt?
Nociceptors, or pain receptors do not typically adapt.
What is very adaptable?
Smell
What are 2 main types of receptors?
Unencapsulated and Encapsulated
Are Merkel’s Discs found in unencapsulated or encapsulated receptors?
Unencapsulated
What are Merkel’s Discs?
These are disc shaped cells found in the epithelium, often on fingertips, that detect soft touches on the skin.
What are root hair plexuses?
These are found in unencapsulated endings and are free nerve endings that are wrapped around hair follicles
Where are Messiner’s Corpuscles found?
Encapsulated Endings
What do Messiner’s Corpuscles do?
They detect soft touch and are found in hairless areas.
Where are Krause’s End Bulbs found?
Mucous Membranes
What do Krause’s End Bulbs Detect?
Touch
Are Pancinian Corpuscles encapsulated or unencapsulated?
Encapsulated
Where are Pancinian Cospuscles found?
Subcutaneous Tissue, Interosseous Membranes (the tissue between the tibia and fibula), and mesentaries of the gut
Are Pancinian Corpuscles simple or complex?
Simple
Are Ruffini’s Corpuscles found in hairy or glaborous skin?
Both
What is the function of Ruffini’s Corpuscles?
To detect low frequency vibration or pressure
The warm receptors of thermoreceptors respond to temperature within what temperature?
77 degrees F to 113 degrees F
What temperatures are included for cold receptors?
50 degrees F to 68 degrees F
What is referred to as a pain receptor?
Nociceptor
What receptor is not found in the brain?
Nociceptor
What are the 3 main special senses we have?
Sight, Taste, Hearing
What are chemical senses divided to?
Taste (Gustation) and Smell (Olfaction)
