Sensory Reception in Animals

These flashcards cover key vocabulary related to sensory reception and processes in animals as discussed in the lecture notes.

Mechanoreception

The process by which organisms detect mechanical pressure or distortion through specialized sensory receptor cells.

Photoreception

The ability of an organism to detect light through photoreceptors, enabling vision.

Chemoreception

The process of sensing chemicals in the environment, which includes taste and smell.

Thermoreception

The ability to detect changes in temperature.

Electroreception

The ability to detect electric fields in the environment, often used by aquatic animals.

Magnetoreception

The ability to detect magnetic fields for navigation purposes.

Afferent division of PNS

The part of the peripheral nervous system that carries sensory information to the central nervous system (CNS).

Efferent division of PNS

The part of the peripheral nervous system that carries motor commands from the central nervous system to effectors.

Sensory Transduction

The process whereby sensory receptors convert stimuli into electrical signals.

Hair cells

Sensory receptor cells found in the inner ear that detect sound vibrations and aid in hearing.

Action potential

A rapid rise and fall in voltage or membrane potential across a cellular membrane, crucial for signal transmission in neurons.

Olfaction

The sense of smell, involving the detection of volatile chemicals.

Stereocilia

Small hair-like projections on hair cells involved in mechanotransduction.

Kinocilium

A single long hair-like projection found on hair cells that helps in detecting sound and motion.

Echolocation

The biological sonar used by some animals such as bats and dolphins to locate objects by reflected sound waves.

Ultrasound

Sound waves with frequencies above the audible range (>20,000 Hz), used by some animals for echolocation.

Chemoreceptors

Sensory receptors that respond to chemical stimuli, including taste and smell.

Cones and Rods

Photoreceptor cells in the retina; cones detect color and bright light, while rods detect dim light.

Rhodopsin

A light-sensitive receptor protein found in rods that is crucial for vision in low-light conditions.

Ommatidia

The functional units of compound eyes in insects, each containing photoreceptor cells.

MHC genes

Major Histocompatibility Complex genes that play a role in immune response and may influence olfactory preferences.