Bios 252 Exam 3 Review: The Senses and Endocrine System

A collection of flashcards based on the key topics and concepts covered in the BIOS 252 lecture notes for Exam 3, focusing on sensory systems and the endocrine system.

Sensory versus perception

For perception to happen, the sensory signal must reach the cerebrum.

Adaptation

The ability to no longer perceive sensations due to prolonged exposure.

Exteroceptors

Sensations from outside the body.

Interoceptors

Sensations from inside the body.

Proprioceptors

Sense where your body is in space and time.

Mechanoreceptors

Sensory receptors that respond to touch, pressure, vibrations, and stretch.

Osmoreceptors

Sensory receptors that detect osmolarity.

Thermoreceptors

Sensory receptors that respond to temperature changes.

Chemoreceptors

Sensory receptors that respond to chemicals.

Photoreceptors

Sensory receptors that respond to light.

Nociceptors

Sensory receptors that detect pain, classified as fast (acute) and slow (chronic).

Refraction

The bending of light when it passes through a clear substance.

Photoreceptor cells

Cells in the retina that send signals to the brain for processing visual information.

Auditory pathways

The route that sound travels through the outer ear, middle ear, and inner ear.

Olfaction

The sense of smell, processed by olfactory chemoreceptor cells.

Gustation

The sense of taste, including various types of taste receptors on the tongue.

Papillae

Bumps on the tongue that contain taste buds.

Homeostasis

The body's ability to maintain stable internal conditions.

Hormonal stimuli

Triggers for hormone release that come from other hormones.

Neural stimuli

Triggers for hormone release that come from nerve impulses.

Humoral stimuli

Triggers for hormone release that come from changes in the blood levels of certain ions or nutrients.

Oxytocin

Hormone released during childbirth that enhances contractions and stimulates milk letdown.

Calcitonin

Hormone produced by the thyroid that lowers blood calcium levels.

Parathyroid hormone (PTH)

Hormone that increases blood calcium levels by acting on bones and kidneys.

Insulin

Hormone that lowers blood glucose levels by facilitating uptake into cells.

Glucagon

Hormone that raises blood glucose levels by promoting glycogen breakdown.

Stress response

The body's physiological reaction to perceived harmful events or challenges.