SENSORY RECEPTORS

general senses

touch, pain, pressure that can be felt in many areas

specific senses

sight, smell, taste that are perceived only by specific, localized receptors

punctate distribution

pattern of uneven distribution of sense receptors

modality

lights, heat, sounds, pressure, and specific chemicals

receptors

receiving units of the body that respond to stimuli

7 types of receptors

photoreceptors

thermoreceptors

proprioceptors

nociceptors

mechanoreceptors

chemoreceptors

baroreceptors.

photoreceptors

detects light

thermoreceptors

detects changes in temperature

proprioreceptors

detects changes in tension such as those in joints

nociceptors

transmit sensation pain are present as naked nerve endings.

mechanoreceptors

perceive mechanical stimuli

baroreceptors

respond to change in pressure, such as blood pressure

chemoreceptors

respond to change in mechanical environment such as taste and smell

2 light touch corpsucles

Meissner corpsucle and merkel disc

light touch receptor

allow the perception of very light touch stimuli like a fly walking on your neck

pacinian (lamellated) corpsucle

sense pressure as you lean against the wall

pain receptor

naked nerve endings in the dermis that respond to many environmental stimuli

tonic receptors

constantly perceive stimuli

phasic receptors

adapt to a stimulus

gustation

other term of sense of taste

olfaction

other term of sense of smell

retina

receptive layer of the eye that converts light energy to action potentials

pupil

opening located at the center of the eye

iris

the colored part of the eye that controls the size of the pupil and regulates the amount of light entering the eye.

sclera

white of the eye that provides protection and structure.

conjunctiva

a membrane that covers the front of the eye and lines the eyelids, helping to keep the eye moist.

cornea

structure of the eye important for bending light rays that strike the eye, allowing us to focus light

rods

determining the shape of objects and for seeing in dim lights

cones

involved in color vision and in visual acuity

near point

the minimum distance an object can comfortably be held in focus

rhodopsin

photosensitive pigment of the eye

optic disc

a region where the retinal nerve fibers exit from the back of the eye and form the optic nerve

decibels

the amplitude of the wave is measured in units called_

static balance

a person can determine their nonmoving position such as standing upright or lying down

dynamic or kinetic balance

motion is detected, such as abrupt turning or spinning

cochlea

a spiral-shaped organ in the inner ear that is responsible for converting sound vibrations into neural signals.

vestibule

a structure in the inner ear involved in balance and spatial orientation, detecting linear accelerations and head position.

semicircular canals

determine moving or dynamic balance.