Chapter 16: Senses Flashcards
(103 cards)
Sensory receptors
detect a stimulus
Stimulus
changes in sensory information
Sensation
a stimulus we are consciously aware of
For a stimulus to be consciously perceived, the sensory input must be sent to what area of the brain?
the cerebral cortex
The 3 criteria used to describe sensory receptors
1- receptor distribution
2- stimulus origin
3- modality of the stimulus
Receptor distribution
the location of the receptors
General sense receptors
located throughout the body in the skin and internal organs; 2 subtypes:
1- somatosensory
2- visceral sensory
Somatosensory sense receptor location
located in skin, muscles, tendons, and joints
Visceral sense receptor location
located in the head region; 5 special senses
The 5 special senses
1- vision/sight
2- hearing/ audition
3- smell/olfaction
4- taste/ gustation
5- balance/ equilibrium and acceleration
Stimulus origin
where the stimulus originates from
Exteroceptors
stimuli originate from the external environment
Interoceptors
stimuli originate from the walls of internal organs
Proprioceptors
stimuli originates from muscles, tendons, and joints, and detects body and limb movement
Modality
the type of stimulus
Chemoreceptors
detect chemical changes such as molecules in the fluid
Thermoreceptors
detect temperature changes
Photoreceptors
detect light changes- color, intensity, and movement of light
Mechanoreceptors
detect touch, pressure, and vibrational changes (most common type)
Baroreceptors
detect stretch changes
Nociceptors
detect pain
Tactile receptors
abundant mechanoreceptors of skin and mucous membranes; endings can be encapsulated and unencapsulated
Unencapsulated tactile receptors
- free nerve endings
- root hair plexus
Encapsulated tactile receptors
- lamellated (Pacinian) corpuscles
- tactile (Meissner) corpuscles