Chapter 34: The Sensory System Vocabulary Flashcards

A set of 50 vocabulary flashcards covering the key structures, functions, aging effects, and disorders of the sensory system based on Chapter 34.

Sensory System

The system that allows us to experience the world around us and helps protect us from harm through sight, hearing, taste, smell, and touch.

Deep Touch Nerves

Nerves located in the skin that sense pressure and prompt us to move positions.

Referred Pain

Pain that is felt in a location different from its actual source, such as left arm pain during a heart attack.

Phantom Pain

The sensation of pain felt in an amputated limb.

Tastebuds

Structures located on the tongue that detect sweet, salty, bitter, sour, and umami (savory) flavors.

Chemoreceptors

Sensory receptors for taste and smell that decrease with age, causing taste and smell to become less intense and decreasing appetite.

Sclera

The tough outer tissue layer of the eye, commonly known as the 'white of the eye'.

Cornea

The clear front part of the eye that allows light to pass through.

Choroid

The middle layer of the eye containing blood vessels that supply nutrients.

Ciliary Body

Tiny muscles in the middle layer of the eye attached to the lens that change the shape of the lens to allow focusing.

Iris

The colored part of the eye that controls the amount of light entering through its central opening.

Pupil

The opening in the center of the iris through which light enters the eye.

Retina

The innermost layer of the eye containing rods and cones that turns light into nerve impulses.

Optic Nerve

The nerve that transmits visual nerve impulses from the retina to the brain.

Anterior Chamber

The fluid-filled chamber of the eye located between the cornea and the lens.

Aqueous Humor

The fluid contained within the anterior chamber of the eye.

Posterior Chamber

The fluid-filled chamber of the eye located between the lens and the retina.

Vitreous Humor

The fluid contained in the posterior chamber that gives the eyeball its shape.

Myopia

A vision defect commonly referred to as nearsightedness.

Hyperopia

A vision defect commonly referred to as farsightedness.

Astigmatism

A vision defect that causes blurred vision.

Presbyopia

An age-related condition where the eye lens becomes less flexible, making it difficult to focus on close objects.

Conjunctivitis

An infection or inflammation of the conjunctiva causing red sclera, itching, burning, excessive tearing, and sticky white or yellow discharge.

Cataracts

Yellowing and hardening of the lens that prevents light from entering, leading to cloudy vision and blindness.

Glaucoma

An eye condition where pressure increases in the anterior chamber because aqueous humor is not properly absorbed, eventually destroying the retina.

Macular Degeneration

An eye disease caused by protein deposits or blood vessel growth on the macula, damaging receptors and central vision.

Macula

The part of the retina affected by protein deposits or blood vessel growth in macular degeneration.

Legal Blindness

A degree of vision loss where a person may still have partial sight, such as seeing light, movement, or shapes, but cannot identify objects clearly.

Prosthetic Eye

A curved disc made of ceramic or plastic designed to fit underneath the eyelids to replace a missing eye.

Pinna

The outer ear structure, also called the auricle, that collects sound waves and directs them down the canal to the eardrum.

External Auditory Canal

The ear canal containing small hairs and cerumen-secreting glands that trap dirt and particles.

Cerumen

Earwax secreted by glands in the external auditory canal that traps dirt and protects the ear.

Tympanic Membrane

The eardrum, which separates the outer and middle ear and vibrates in response to sound waves.

Middle Ear

An air space containing three small bones (ossicles) that forms a bridge between the eardrum and the inner ear.

Auditory Ossicles

Three tiny bones in the middle ear known individually as the malleus, incus, and stapes.

Malleus

One of the three small auditory ossicles located inside the middle ear.

Incus

The middle bone among the three auditory ossicles in the middle ear.

Stapes

One of the three small auditory ossicles in the middle ear that forms part of the bone bridge.

Eustachian Tube

A passageway connecting the middle ear to the pharynx that equalizes pressure in the middle ear to prevent eardrum rupture.

Cochlea

A fluid-filled inner ear structure shaped like a snail's shell that contains receptors for hearing.

Cochlear Nerve

The nerve that transmits hearing impulses from the receptors in the cochlea to the brain.

Vestibular Apparatus

The inner ear structure, consisting of the vestibule and semicircular canals, that controls balance.

Motion Sickness

A condition resulting from conflicting signals sent to the brain from the eyes and ears, leading to nausea, dizziness, and vomiting.

Presbycusis

Age-related hearing loss characterized by an inability to hear high-pitched sounds and difficulty distinguishing sounds like 'th' and 's'.

Cerumen Impaction

The accumulation of earwax in the external auditory canal resulting in decreased hearing, ear fullness, ringing, itching, and pain.

Otitis Media

An infection of the middle ear that causes ear pain, fever, and difficulty hearing.

Otitis Externa

An infection of the lining of the external auditory canal, commonly called 'Swimmer's ear', which is painful to touch.

Ménière's Disease

An inner ear disorder marked by periodic episodes of excess fluid buildup, vertigo, tinnitus, temporary hearing loss, and ear pressure.

Vertigo

A symptom involving dizziness experienced during inner ear episodes such as Ménière's disease.

Tinnitus

A sensory symptom characterized by ringing in the ears.