sensory receptors Flashcards
what is a sensory receptor?
How we pick up information from the environment, detects PHYSICAL STIMULI and transmits the signal to coordinators
what do they do?
they turn this energy from the physical stimulus in the environment into electrical energy
receptors cells are known as…
energy transducers
what are transducers?
cells that convert one form of energy into another
the electrical signal generated from the stimulus is known as…
a generator potential
what is the generator potential?
the generator potential is the depolarisation of the membrane of a receptor cell
sensory receptors are designed…
specifically to one stimulus (e.g. photoreceptors in the eye designed only to pick up light)
why are sensory receptors specific to one type of stimulus?
because they have a unique specialised structure, specific to one type of physical property
what is the difference between ‘receptor cells’ and ‘receptors’? = what is a receptor?
Receptors are proteins on cell surfaces that detect chemicals outside of the cell. inside the membrane of a cell, responds to chemicals which can bind to the receptor and trigger a response.
what is a receptor cell?
a whole cell in the nervous system that detect stimuli, receptor cells have receptors on them
what are the Pacinian corpuscles?
a type of receptor cells that lie in the skin
What do Pacinian corpuscles detect?
changes in pressure- when skin’s pinched, acts as a transducer
describe the structure of Pacinian corpuscles?
made up of concentric rings of connective tissue and ring shaped cells secret connective tissue, these rings surround a sensory neurone
what happens when the skin is stretched?
the concentric rings of the Pacinian corpuscle deforms
what does deformation of P C result in?
electrical signals inside the sensory neurone
