The Senses Key Terms Flashcards
Ampula
Located at the base of each of the three semicircular canals; houses the sensory epithelium, or crista, that contains the hair cells
Aqueous Humor
the clear fluid filling the space in the front of the eyeball between the lens and the cornea.
Astigmatism
blurred vision caused by a misshapen lens or cornea
Auditory Canal
collects sound waves and channels them into the ear canal where the sound is amplified
Basilar membrane
the floor of the middle canal or inner ear
Blindspot
the small circular area at the back of the retina where the optic nerve enters the eyeball and which is devoid of rods
Chemical Senses
Contains smell and taste
Chemoreceptor
include the sensory receptors in our nose and taste buds, which are attuned to chemicals in the external environment, as well as some receptors that detect chemicals in the body’s internal environment
Choroid
the pigmented vascular layer of the eyeball between the retina and the sclera.
Cochlea
Coiled tube in inner ear that contains organ of corti
Compound eye
The photoreceptor in many invertebrates, mainly insects and crustaceans; consists of up to several thousand light detectors called ommatidia
Cones
stimulated by bright light and can distinguish color, but they contribute little to night vision.
Conjunctiva
the mucous membrane that covers the front of the eye and lines the inside of the eyelids.
Cornea
transparent; lets light into the eye and helps to focus it.
Cupula
Eardrum
A thin sheet of connective tissue that separates the outer ear from the middle ear and vibrates when stimulated by sound waves
Electromagnetic receptor
A sensory receptor that detects energy in the form of electricity, magnetism, or various wavelengths of light
Eustachian tube
passage from the middle ear to the pharynx (back of the throat), allowing air pressure to stay equal on either side of the eardrum.
Eye cup
The simplest type of photoreceptor; cluster of photoreceptor cells shaded by pigmented cells; detects light intensity and direction; found in planarians
farsightedness
It occurs when the eyeball is shorter than normal, causing the lens to focus images behind the retina; people see distant objects normally but cannot focus on close objects.
Fovea centralis
An eyes center of focus where photoreceptor cells are highly concentrated
Hair cells
A type of mechanoreceptors that detects sound waves and other forms of movement in fluid or air
Inner ear
Includes cochlea, organ or corti, and semicircular canals.
Iris
Pigmented front part of the choroid
Lens
Focuses light rays onto the retina
Mechanoreceptor
A sensory receptor that detects changes in the environment associated with pressure, touch, stretch, motion, or sound
Muscle sense
our ability to perceive the position and movement of our body segments without the aid of vision.
Nearsightedness
eyeball is longer than normal so it focuses distant objects in front of the retina instead of on it; cannot focus well on distant objects, although they can see well at short distances.
Middle ear
Contains three small bones, the hammer, anvil and stirrup; convey vibrations from eardrum to oval window.
Organ of corti
Hearing organ
Otoliths
each of three small oval calcareous bodies in the inner ear of vertebrates, involved in sensing gravity and movement.
Otolithic membrane
A gelatinous membrane overlying the acoustic maculae of SACCULE AND UTRICLE
Outer ear
consists of the flap-like pinna—the fleshy structure we commonly refer to as our “ear”—and the auditory canal
Pain receptor
A sensory receptor that detects pain
Photopsin
Contained in cones; absorbs bright light
Photoreceptor
A type of electromagnetic sensory receptor that detects the energy of light in the visible or ultraviolet part of the electromagnetic spectrum
Physical senses
Contains Sight and Sound
Pinna
the visible portion of the outer ear. It collects sound waves and channels them into the ear canal
Pupil
the opening in the center of the eye; admits light to the inside
Receptor potential
The electrical signal produced by sensory transduction
Retina
consists of many photoreceptor cells and sensory neurons
Rhodopsin
Contained in the Rods and is derived from vitamin A, which is why vitamin A deficiency can cause “night blindness.”)
Rods
are extremely sensitive to light and enable us to see in dim light, though only in black, white, and gray
Saccule
a small membranous sac, paired with the utricle; has an important role in orientation and balance, particularly in vertical tilt
Sclera
the white outer layer of the eyeball
Semicircular canals
detect changes in the head’s rate of rotation or angular movement.
Sensory adaptaion
the tendency of some sensory receptors to become less sensitive when they are stimulated repeatedly
Sensory receptor
Specialized cell or neuron the detects stimuli from the environment and send information to CNS
Sensory transduction
the conversion of the stimulus to a receptor potential
Somatic sensory system
has two major components: a subsystem for the detection of mechanical stimuli (e.g., light touch, vibration, pressure, and cutaneous tension), and for the detection of painful stimuli and temperature.
Stretch receptor
A type of mechanoreceptor sensitive to changes in muscle length; detects the position of body parts
Single lens eye
image-forming eye; which is found in some invertebrates and all vertebrates
Tapetum lucidum
a retroreflector. It reflects visible light back through the retina, increasing the light available to the photoreceptors
Thermoreceptor
Sensory receptor that detects heat/cold.
Utricle
important role in orientation and static balance, particularly in horizontal tilt.
Visual acuity
the ability of your eyes to distinguish fine detail.
Vitreous humor
the transparent gelatinous tissue filling the eyeball behind the lens.
