special senses Flashcards
accuracy
acuity
an example of this are eyecharts
acuity
how good you hear
acuity
based on the environment
accomodation
the process in which the curvature of the lens changes in relationship to viewing distance
accomodation
why do sounds feel louder in the morning
because auditory accomodation. our ears are sensative in the morning
-change is adapting to new volumes
savory
umami
detects amino acids (mainly glutamate) signaling protein rich foods
function of umami
helps identify protein sources essential for muscle growth, tissue repair, and overall nutrition
umami
Evolutionarily, detecting protein-rich foods was crucial for survival and development.
umami
Detects carbohydrates and energy-rich foods.
sweets
Responds to: Sugars (glucose, fructose, sucrose) and some artificial sweeteners.
sweets
Encourages consumption of high-energy foods necessary for survival, brain function, and physical activity.
sweets
glucose and monocarbohydrates are molecules used to depolarize in
sweets
Detects acidity, which can indicate ripeness, fermentation, or spoilage.
sour
Responds to: Hydrogen ions (H⁺)
sour
Helps assess food safety and balance pH levels in the body.
sour
why do we want sour taste
signal fermentation (which can be beneficial) or spoilage (which can be harmful), helping with dietary choices.
Function: Detects potentially toxic or harmful substances.
bitter
Advantages: Helps avoid toxic or harmful substances that could cause illness or death.
bitter
activates bitter taste receptors (T2Rs) on the tongue.
quinine
Humans evolved to be highly sensitive to quinine’s bitterness to
avoid consuming toxic plants.
Function: Detects sodium and other essential minerals for maintaining electrolyte balance.
salt
Responds to: Sodium chloride (NaCl) and other mineral salts.
salt
Advantages: Regulates fluid balance, nerve function, and muscle contractions.
salt
we have great senses towards salt because
electrolytes: electrical impulses and bloos pressure
what does having 20/30 vision mean
You must be 20 feet away to see an object that a person with normal vision can see clearly from 30 feet away.
what does the 20 and 30 mean in 20/30 vision
20= distance from the object
30= the distance at which a person with normal vision could read the same line clearly
tells brain where body is
-body position awareness
proprioception
brain structure responsible for coordinating movement, balance, and posture. It integrates sensory information from the eyes (vision), inner ear (vestibular system), and body position (proprioception) to ensure smooth and accurate movements.
cerebellum
cerebellar connection with vision
Controls eye tracking, gaze stabilization (VOR)
cerebellar connection to vestibular
Receives inner ear signals, adjusts body position
cerebellar connection to proprioception
Integrates muscle and joint feedback for movement control
what 3 things does cerebellum afffect during balance
vision, vestibular apparatus, proprioception
when viewing objects at a distance of 20 feet or beyond, why is the lens flat
the ciliary muscles that surround it relax, placing tension on the suspension ligaments attached to the lens
when objects are near, what happens to lens
it becomes more biconvex (rounded) to focus light on the retina of the eye
how does the lens become more biconvex due to its natural resiliency
the ciliary muscle contracts, releasing tension on the suspensory ligaments
the ability to distinguish 2 points rather than one
visual acuity
example of practical visual acuity test
snellen test
why does the optic disk create a blindspot
location is on the retina where the optic nerve exits the eye. this spot devoid of rods and cones and insensitive to light
-no image processing
instrument used to examine the inferior structure of the eye
opthalmoscope
the strenght of each lens is measured in
diopters
what diopter indicates a convex lens
+
what diopter indicates a concave lens
-
what diopter indicates no lens
zero
are receding or approach sounds heard at a greater distance? why
approaching
-sounds waves/doppler effect
when the eyes ability to focus on close objects decline. this is due to the lend losing flexibility over time
presbyopia
what causes color blindness
proboems with the cones in retina
in center of retina and responsible for sharp central vision. has the highest concentration of cone cells
fovea centralis
nearsightedness
-eye too long, cornea too curves
myopia
farsightedness
hyperopia
What is the biological purpose of the patellar reflex?
Postural control and balance, prevent muscle overstretching, and neurological function testing (l2-l4)
What physical difference explains why we have weaker two point discrimination in the skin of the back compared to the tips of our fingers
The density of sensory receptors ( specifically mechanoreceptors) and the size of the receptive fields
Fingers have high density. Back of neck does not
Receptor fields on fingers are small, meaning, the receptor responds to smaller area of skin.
What is the pupillary reflex?
A protective response that regulates the amount of light entering the eye by adjusting the size of the pupil
What is the stimulus of the pupil reflex?
Light entering the eye
What is the receptor of the pupil reflex?
Photo receptors, which are rods and cones in the retina
What affarent neurons and the pupil reflex?
Optic nerve, which carries the visual information of the retina to the brain
What is the efferent neuron in the pupil reflex?
The oculomotor nerve, which carries the motor command to muscles that control the pupil size
What is the effect organ in the pupil reflex?
The iris muscles, specifically sphincter pupil muscle. This constricts the pupil in response to bright lights, causing pupillary constriction.
