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Physiology > Special senses > Flashcards

Special senses Flashcards

1
Q

Humans perception is limited by?

A
  1. receptor types
  2. sensitivity
  3. central processing
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2
Q

Control centre in the brain?
2 things it controls

A

Cerebral cortex
1. Sensation
2. Perception

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3
Q

Receptor definition

A

structure within afferent neuron that responds to stimulus

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4
Q

Sensory transduction

A

conversion of stimulus to electrical energy

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5
Q

Peripheral nervous system

A

nerve fibres carrying info between CNS and other parts of the body
Afferent neurons have sensory receptors at the end of peripheral endings

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6
Q

Adequate stimulus

A

the stimulus that the receptor is specialised to respond to

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7
Q

Types of receptors and their adequate stimulus
Peter Malark Obviously Never Takes Chemicals

A
  1. Photoreceptor (light)
  2. Chemoreceptors (chemicals)
  3. Mechanoreceptor (pressure)
  4. Osmoreceptor (concentration of solutes)
  5. Thermoreceptors (temps)
  6. Nocireceptors (pain)
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8
Q

Intensity of stimulus determined by?

A
  1. number of receptors
  2. frequency of action potentials
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9
Q

Response changes - body adjusts to stimulus in 3 ways:

A
  1. Receptor Adaptation
  2. Neuron Habituation
  3. Neuron Sensitivity
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10
Q

Receptor Adaptation
What is it and 2 types

A

Receptors decrease extent of depolarisation
Repetition of stimulus results in fewer action potentials
1. Tonic Receptors
- adapt slowly or not at all

  1. Phasic Receptors
    - adapt rapidly (watch)
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11
Q

Sensory discrimination
Large vs Small

A

Large diffuse receptive fields = least sensitive
Small dense receptive fields = most sensitive

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12
Q

Somatic senstation
What?
Where is it processed?
Types of tactile receptors (5)

A

Sensation of body surfaces
Somatic processing: spinal cord & brain
1. Hair
2. merkels disc
3. pacinian corpuscle
4. ruffini endings
5. meissners corpuscles

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13
Q

Pain Sensation
describe
3 Categories of Nocireceptors

A

more than a direct response. behaviour and emotions play a role
it is personal and multidimensional
1. Mechanical noceceptors
2. Thermal noceceptors
3. Polymodal noceceptors (damaging stimuli)

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14
Q

EYE
2 main muscles in contraction & relaxation
what occurs in bright light

A

Circular muscles
Radial muscles

In bright light the circular muscles contract and radial muscles relax, and the pupil constricts

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15
Q

Eye accomodation
what is it?
explain process

A

Observation of nearby objects
The ciliary muscles contract -> suspensory ligaments slacken -> lens more convex -> light rays more refracted

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16
Q

Rods VS Cones

A

Rods:
- more sensitive
- low acuity
- shades of grey
- photopigment

Cone:
- less sensitive
- sharp
- colours
- 3 photopigments (red, green & blue)

17
Q

Visual Acuity Test
formula?

A

VD = d/D
(d = 6 meters)
(D = distance at which eyes should be able to read it)

18
Q

EAR
3 main sections

A
  1. External ear
  2. Middle ear
  3. Inner ear
19
Q

Pitch, Intensity and Timbre

A

Pitch = frequency changes
Intensity = amplitude changes
Timbre = overtones

20
Q

External Ear Structures (3)

A
  1. Pinna
  2. External auditory meatus (canal)
  3. tympanic membrane (eardrum)
21
Q

Middle Ear Structures (3)
MIS

A

Ossicles
1. Malleus
2. Incus
3. Stapes

22
Q

Inner Ear (1 main & NB compartment)

A

Cochlea
1. Organ of Corti

23
Q

Pitch discrimination

A

Depends on where it vibrates maximally on the basilar membrane

24
Q

Loudness discrimination

A

Depends by how much the basilar membrane vibrates

25
Q

Conductive deafness
What
& possible causes

A

Sound waves are not conducted through external and middle ear
Blockage
ruptured ear drum
ear infection
restricted ossicular movements

26
Q

Sensorineural deafness
What
& where possible defects may lie

A

Sound waves are transmitted to inner ear but not translated to nerve signals
1. Organ of corti
2. in auditory nerves
3. in ascending auditory pathways

27
Q

Equilibrium
Vestibular aparatus and their roles (2)

A
  1. Semi-circle canals
    - rotation / angular acceleration
  2. Otolith canals
    - upside down sloth (position of head to gravity)
28
Q

Taste
receptors?
protrusions on tongue?
5 primary tastes

A

Chemoreceptors
Papillae

  1. sweet 2. sour 3. bitter 4. umami 5. salty
29
Q

Smell (olfactory mucosa)
3 cell types

A
  1. olfactory receptors cells
    - afferent neuron
  2. basal cells
    - detect odours
  3. supporting cells
    - secrete mucous

Physiology (2 decks)

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