The Senses Flashcards
What is the formal sense of the system of smell?
the olfactory system
What is the formal sense of the system of taste?
the gustatory system
What is the “language” of the nervous system that all stimuli must be converted into?
action potentials
Where are most of the chemoreceptors (“smell receptors”) of the olfactory system located?
The roof of the nasal cavity
What state of matter must particles be in order to be sensed by the olfactory system?
must be gaseous; in gas form
How many odors is the olfactory system capable of registering?
over 1 trillion
What is the gustatory system capable of sensing (types of taste)?
sweet, bitter, sour, salty, umami (savory)
How do the olfactory and gustatory systems work together?
the olfactory system helps the gustatory system identify “flavor” by matching an odor with a taste category
What structure on the tongue contains the taste buds?
the papillae (bumps)
What are the three shapes of the taste buds?
circumvaliate, foliate, fusiform
What layer of the skin contains the nerves responsible for the sense of touch?
The dermis
What type of specialized receptor registers the stimulus of pressure?
mechanoreceptor
What type of specialized receptor registers the stimulus of pain?
nocioreceptor
What type of specialized receptor registers the stimulus of light?
photoreceptor
What type of specialized receptor registers the stimulus of different molecules, like in smell/taste?
chemoreceptor
What specific photoreceptors in the ocular system register color?
cones (c for “cone/color”)
What do the rods in the eye do?
they register low-light stimuli that indicate grey shades and general shapes (but not detail or color)
Where can you find 80% of all sensory neurons in the human body?
the ocular system
What is the “focusing” apparatus of the eye called?
the pupil
What structure of the eye do the ciliary muscles manipulate?
the lens
What part of the eye changes the dilation (how open) the pupil is?
the iris
Where are the rods and cones located within the eye?
the retina
What is the optic nerve made of?
the axons of the neurons connected to the rods and cones
What is the auricle or pinna?
it’s the fleshy structure of the ear that you can grab. it funnels sound into the ear canal
What is the other common name for the tympanic membrane?
eardrum
What does the tympanic cavity do?
it amplifies sound waves so they can push through fluid enough to move the bones of the ear
Where can you find the basilar membrane?
In the cochlea, which is in the inner ear
The basilar membrane has hair-like cells which respond to vibrations and open ___________ channels, which begin the process of sending action potentials
sodium
The three membranes that respond to the motion of your head and provide your sense of position are found in the __________________
vestibular apparatus
What causes motion sickness?
Conflicting sensory input
What causes dizziness?
The fluid in the vestibular membrane is still moving even though you’ve stopped.
