U3 Nervous system: Types of receptors Flashcards
1
Q
What are the different types of receptors?
A
- Thermoreceptors
- Osmoreceptors
- Chemoreceptors
- Touch receptors/pressure receptors/mechanoreceptors
- Pain receptors/nociceptors
2
Q
Thermoreceptors
A
- Temperature receptors that respond to heat and cold
- Skin thermoreceptors inform the brain of the temperature outside the body, so we are consciously aware of the temperature of our surroundings
- Thermoreceptors in the hypothalamus detect the temperature of blood flowing through the brain to monitor the core body temperature
3
Q
Osmoreceptors
A
- Receptors located in the hypothalamus which are sensitive to the osmotic pressure of body fluids
- Osmotic pressure is determined by the concentration of substances dissolved in the water of the blood plasma
- Higher concentration of dissolved substances - higher osmotic pressure
- They can stimulate the hypothalamus to maintain the body’s water content
4
Q
Chemoreceptors
A
- Receptors sensitive to particular chemicals
- Some are located in the nose (providing sensitivity to smells) and in the mouth (providing sensitivity to tastes)
- Some chemoreceptors are internal and are sensitive to the composition of body fluids (eg: pH of blood, concentration of oxygen in blood)
5
Q
Touch receptors/pressure receptors/mechanoreceptors
A
- Receptors sensitive to touch which respond to physical force such as pressure
- Mainly found in the skin
- Receptors close to the surface of the skin are sensitive to very light touch (in lips, fingertips, eyelids)
- Receptors deeper in the skin are sensitive to pressure and vibrations
6
Q
Pain receptors/nociceptors
A
- Receptors stimulated by damage to tissues from cuts, poor blood blow, excessive heat causing burning, etc
- Mainly located in the skin and mucus membranes
- They are not located in the brain, but the brain interprets the pain
- Pain is important as it warns us that damage is occurring and causes us to take evasive action to minimise damage
