Principles of Anatomy and Physiology: The Special Senses

These flashcards cover key terms and definitions related to the special senses, including olfaction, gustation, vision, and hearing.

Olfaction

The sense of smell, involving olfactory receptor cells and transduction of odor molecules.

Olfactory glands

Bowman's glands that produce mucus to dissolve odor molecules for transduction.

Anosmia

Loss of the sense of smell, commonly associated with COVID-19.

Gustation

The sense of taste, with taste buds found on the tongue, soft palate, pharynx, and epiglottis.

Taste buds

Sensory organs containing gustatory receptor cells responsible for taste.

Filiform papillae

Structures on the tongue that increase friction but do not contain taste buds.

Vision

The sense that uses visible light to form images, involving components like the cornea and lens.

Iris

The colored part of the eye that controls the size of the pupil, adjusting light intake.

Astigmatism

A visual condition caused by an irregular curvature of the cornea or lens, resulting in blurred vision.

Cochlea

A spiral-shaped structure in the inner ear that translates sound vibrations into neural impulses.

Vestibular apparatus

Includes semicircular ducts, utricle, and saccule; responsible for balance and spatial orientation.

Presbyopia

The age-related loss of the eye's ability to focus on close objects, due to lens rigidity.

Cataracts

A disorder that involves the loss of transparency of the lens, affecting vision.

Glaucoma

A condition characterized by increased intraocular pressure, leading to vision loss.

Tinnitus

The perception of ringing or noise in the ears, often associated with hearing loss.

Ototoxicity

Ear poisoning that can lead to hearing loss due to certain medications or chemicals.