Sensory Receptors and Their Functions

A collection of vocabulary flashcards defining key terms and concepts related to sensory receptors and their functions.

Sensory receptors

Structures that detect changes in the environment and send signals to the brain.

Stimuli

Changes in the environment that can be physical or chemical.

Sensation

The raw awareness of a stimulus reaching the brain.

Perception

The brain’s interpretation of a sensation.

Somatic senses

General senses including touch, pressure, vibration, temperature, pain, and proprioception.

Mechanoreceptors

Receptors that respond to touch, pressure, vibration, stretch, and motion.

Thermoreceptors

Receptors that respond to heat or cold.

Chemoreceptors

Receptors that detect chemical stimuli.

Nociceptors

Receptors that detect damage to tissues and respond to pressure, temperature, or chemicals.

Referred pain

Pain felt in a different location from its source.

Photoreceptors

Light-sensitive cells in the retina responsible for vision.

Sensory adaptation

Decrease in sensitivity to a constant stimulus.

Gustation

The sense of taste; involves detecting chemicals in food.

Olfaction

The sense of smell; involves detection of odor molecules.

Cornea

Transparent outer layer of the eye that helps focus light.

Lens

Flexible structure that adjusts shape to focus light on the retina.

Iris

The colored part of the eye that controls pupil size.

Pupil

The opening in the iris that controls light entry.

Retina

Inner layer of the eye that converts light into neural signals.

Rods

Photoreceptors for black and white, night, and peripheral vision.

Cones

Photoreceptors for color vision and detail.

Fovea centralis

Small area in the retina with the highest cone concentration.

Optic nerve

Transmits visual information from the retina to the brain.

Blind spot

Point on the retina with no photoreceptors.

Glaucoma

Condition of increased eye pressure damaging the optic nerve.

Cataracts

Clouding of the lens causing blurry or distorted vision.

Color blindness

Inability to perceive certain colors due to cone deficiencies.

Nearsightedness (Myopia)

Condition where near objects are seen clearly, but distant objects are blurry.

Farsightedness (Hyperopia)

Condition where distant objects are seen clearly, but near objects are blurry.

Astigmatism

Irregular curvature of the cornea or lens causing blurry vision.

20/20 vision

Normal visual clarity at 20 feet.

Sound waves

Vibrations in air converted into electrical signals by the ears.

Pinna

Outer ear flap that collects sound.

Auditory canal

Channels sound to the eardrum, lined with earwax-producing glands.

Tympanic membrane (eardrum)

Vibrates from sound waves and transfers to middle ear bones.

Cochlea

Spiral-shaped inner ear structure that translates vibrations into nerve impulses.

Organ of Corti

Hearing structure in the cochlea containing hair cells.

Vestibular apparatus

Inner ear structures responsible for balance.

Semicircular canals

Detect head rotation for dynamic equilibrium.

Vestibule

Detects gravity and linear movement for static equilibrium.

Motion sickness

Results from conflicting signals from the eyes and vestibular system.

Taste cells

Modified epithelial cells in taste buds that have receptors for different tastes.

Taste buds

Sensory organs located mostly on the tongue; contain taste cells.