Fundamentals of Anatomy & Physiology: Sensory Pathways and Somatic Nervous System

Flashcards summarizing key concepts and terms related to sensory pathways and the somatic nervous system.

Sensory Pathways

Series of neurons that relays sensory information from receptors to the central nervous system (CNS).

Afferent Division

Part of the nervous system that transmits sensory information to the CNS.

Efferent Division

Part of the nervous system that carries somatic motor commands from the brain to peripheral effectors.

Sensory Receptors

Specialized cells or processes that monitor specific conditions in the body or external environment.

General Senses

Sensations that describe our sensitivity to temperature, pain, touch, pressure, vibration, and proprioception.

Special Senses

Include olfaction (smell), gustation (taste), vision (sight), equilibrium (balance), and hearing.

Transduction

The conversion of an arriving stimulus into an action potential by a sensory receptor.

Proprioceptors

Type of sensory receptor that monitors the positions of skeletal muscles and joints.

Nociceptors

Pain receptors that respond to potentially damaging stimuli.

Mechanoreceptors

Sensory receptors sensitive to physical stimuli that distort their plasma membranes.

Thermoreceptors

Sensory receptors that detect changes in temperature.

Chemoreceptors

Receptors that respond to chemical changes, including pH, carbon dioxide, and oxygen levels.

Somatic Nervous System (SNS)

Controls contractions of skeletal muscles.

Corticospinal Pathway

Motor pathway that provides voluntary control over skeletal muscles.

Spinothalamic Pathway

Carries sensations of crude touch, pressure, pain, and temperature to the brain.

Posterior Column Pathway

Carries sensations of fine touch, vibration, pressure, and proprioception.

Spinocerebellar Pathway

Conveys information about the positions of muscles, tendons, and joints to the cerebellum.

Phasic Receptors

Normally inactive receptors that provide information about intensity and rate of change of a stimulus.

Tonic Receptors

Always active receptors that show little adaptation to constant stimuli.

Adaptation

The reduction of receptor sensitivity in response to a constant stimulus.

Receptive Field

Area monitored by a single receptor cell.