The Sensory System Flashcards
Sensory Unit
Components necessary for sensation.
Receptor
Converts the environment change into action potentials
Neural Pathways
Conducts the APs from the sensory receptor to the interpreting centers of the brain.
Specific Route
Is precise, straight through from a single receptor
Non-specific Route
Input from many types of receptors
Exteroceptors
Respond to changes in the external environment
Visceroceptors (Enteroceptors)
Respond to changes within the body
Proprioreceptors
Respond to information about body position or movement
Transducers
Convert one type of energy to a different type of energy
Adaptation
A constant level stimulus results in a reduction in sensitivity
Peripheral Adaptation
The receptor or sensory neuron reduces the level of activity
Central Adaptation
Involves the CNS, the sensors respond, but the CNS centers do not respond.
Specificity (Law of specific energies)
Each receptor has a specific type of energy to which it responds best.
General (cutaneous) senses
Senses largely associated with the skin although pain and temperature receptors are located in other areas as well. Embedded in the skin and detect changes in the external environment.
Encapsulated Nerve Ending
Nerve ending with one or morel layers of membranes surrounding it.
Nerve Endings Associated With Touch
Meissner’s corpuscles, Merkel’s disks, and the end of organs of Ruffini.
Pacinian Corpuscle
Detect pressure and vibrations
Free Nerve Endings:
Pain Reception
Nociceptors, respond to anything that may cause tissue damage.
Free Nerve Endings:
Touch
Certain free endings wrap around a hair shaft forming a sensitive lever system for touch.
Free Nerve Endings:
Temperature
It’s thought that certain populations of nerve endings can detect temperature
Neural Pathways of the Cutaneous Receptors
A chain of three neurons, which cross over from one side of the nervous system to the other. Consequently, cutaneous sensation from the right side of the body is interpreted by the left side of the brain.
Proprioreceptors
Receptors which provide information as to the status of the muscles in terms of contraction and the position of the body.
Tendon Receptors
Detect the amount of contraction, measured by the stretch of the tendon
Muscle Spindle
Inside the muscle, parallel to the fibers. Detects the amount of relaxation
Joint Receptors
Measure the angle of the joint and therefore permit knowledge of limb positions. This is the only one that works at a conscious level.
Taste and Smell Senses
Chemical senses, respond to chemicals in the environment.
Taste buds
Receptors located in mounds of tissue on the tongue. Each has a gustatory pore and microvilli. Are replaced every 10 days
Gustatory Pore
Permits the saliva containing the dissolved particles to enter the bud and come in contact with the sensory cells which are then activated.
Taste receptros respond to:
5 classes of chemicals: sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and umami.
Taste
A result of taste receptors, olfactory, receptors, and touch receptors.