Sense Organs - Anatomy and Physiology

These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms related to the anatomy and physiology of sensory organs, their functions, and mechanisms.

Receptor

Structure specialized to detect a stimulus.

Transduction

The conversion of one form of energy to another by sensory receptors.

Sensation

The detection of a stimulus, creating a small local electrical change (the receptor potential).

Perception

The conscious experience and interpretation of a stimulus.

Modality

The type of stimulus or the perception it produces, such as vision, hearing, or taste.

Receptive Field

The area within which a sensory neuron detects stimuli.

Sensory Adaptation

The process in which sensory receptor activity decreases after prolonged exposure to a stimulus.

Phasic Receptors

Receptors that adapt quickly to stimuli; they burst signals when stimulus starts, then reduce or stop signaling.

Tonic Receptors

Receptors that adapt slowly and continue to fire action potentials steadily while the stimulus is present.

Thermoreceptors

Receptors that respond to heat and cold.

Nociceptors

Receptors that respond to tissue injury and are associated with the sensation of pain.

Chemoreceptors

Receptors that respond to chemicals, such as odors and tastes.

Proprioceptors

Receptors that sense body position and movements, located in muscles, tendons, and joint capsules.

Fast Pain

Immediate, sharp, localized pain carried by myelinated A-delta fibers.

Slow Pain

Burning, dull, aching pain carried by unmyelinated C fibers.

Gustation

The sensory perception of molecules dissolved in water; sense of taste.

Olfaction

The sense of smell; response to airborne chemicals called odorants.

Phototransduction

The process by which photoreceptor cells convert light into electrical signals.

Rods

Photoreceptor cells responsible for night vision and monochromatic vision.

Cones

Photoreceptor cells responsible for daytime vision and color vision.

Retinal

A derivative of vitamin A that combines with opsin in photoreceptor cells to form visual pigments.

Cochlea

The organ of hearing that converts vibrations to nerve signals.

Vestibular Apparatus

Structure in the inner ear that contains receptors for equilibrium.

Visual Projection Pathway

The pathway by which visual signals are transmitted from the retina to the brain.