1.1.5 Sensory Receptors

Question 1

What type of cells detect changes in light intensity and wavelengths?

Answer 1

Rods and cones in the retina of the eye.

Question 2

What type of cells detect the presence of volatile chemicals?

Answer 2

Olfactory cells which line the inner surface of the nasal cavity.

Question 3

What type of cells detect the presence of soluble chemicals?

Answer 3

Taste buds

Question 4

What type of cells detect changes in pressure?

Answer 4

Pressure receptors in the skin.

Question 5

What type of cells detect vibrations in the air?

Answer 5

Sound receptors in the inner ear (cochlea).

Question 6

What type of cells detect the length of mucsle fibres?

Answer 6

Muscle spindles

Question 7

What is meant by the term transducers?

Answer 7

Sensory receptors are energy transducers as they are able to convert one form of energy into another.

Question 8

Describe the role and structure of a motor neurone?

Answer 8

A motor neurone carry action potentials from the CNS to an effector such as a muscle or gland. They have a cell body in the CNS at one end of the neurone. The cell body. There is many short dendrites on the CNS end, to carry the impulses towards the cell body. There is then a long axon, which carries the impusle away from the cell body to the effector.

Question 9

Describe the role and structure of a sensory neurone?

Answer 9

The role of a sensory neurone is to carry the action potential from a sensory receptor to the CNS. A sensory neurone has a cell body in the centre of the neurone. It has sensory receptors at one end, which then lead to a long dendron, which carries the actional potential towards the cell body. After the cel body there is a short axon carrying the actional potential into the CNS, with dendrites at the end of the neurone.

Question 10

What is a relay neurone?

Answer 10

Relay neurones are the neurones that connect sensory and motor neurones.