Sensory Pathways and the Somatic Nervous System

This set of flashcards covers key concepts and terminology related to sensory pathways and the somatic nervous system, including sensory receptors, pain perception, and brain functions involved in sensation and language.

Sensation

Means by which brain receives information about environment and body.

Perception

Conscious awareness of stimuli received by sensory receptors.

Mechanoreceptors

Sensory receptors that respond to compression, bending, stretching of cells.

Chemoreceptors

Sensory receptors that are involved in smell and taste.

Thermoreceptors

Sensory receptors that detect temperature.

Photoreceptors

Sensory receptors that respond to light as vision.

Nociceptors

Sensory receptors that perceive pain.

Exteroreceptors

Sensory receptors associated with skin.

Visceroreceptors

Sensory receptors associated with organs.

Proprioceptors

Sensory receptors associated with joints, tendons.

Merkel’s disk

Sensory receptor that detects light touch and superficial pressure.

Pacinian corpuscle

Sensory receptor that detects deep cutaneous pressure, vibration and proprioception.

Meissner’s corpuscle

Sensory receptor involved in two-point discrimination.

Ruffini’s end organ

Sensory receptor that detects continuous touch or pressure.

Accommodation

Decreased sensitivity to a continued stimulus.

Tonic receptors

Sensory receptors that are always active and show little peripheral adaptation.

Phasic receptors

Sensory receptors that are normally inactive but become active for a short time with a change.

Two-Point Discrimination

Receptor-density dependent measurement of sensitivity in different body parts.

Acute pain

Sharp, well-localized pain perceived by rapid conducting neurons.

Chronic pain

Pain that is not a response to immediate direct tissue injury.

Phantom pain

Sensation experienced in an area where a limb has been amputated.

Endogenous opiates

Substances that act on pain pathways to reduce perception of pain.

Wernicke’s area

Brain area involved in the comprehension of speech and language.

Broca’s area

Brain area involved in the motor production of speech and language.

Lateralization of Cortex

Functional specialization of the left and right hemispheres of the brain.

Handedness

Preference for one hand over the other, with the majority of humans being right-handed.