Special Senses Anatomy: Vision, Hearing, Taste & Smell
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What are the five special senses?
Vision, hearing, balance/equilibrium, olfaction (smell), and gustation (taste).
Where are sensory receptors for the special senses located?
In the head.
What types of stimuli do special-sense receptors detect?
Light, sound waves, movement, and chemical signals
What do special-sense receptors convert stimuli into?
Nerve impulses.
How is special-sense information relayed to the brain?
Via cranial nerves.
Where are olfactory receptors located?
In the superior part of the nasal cavity.
What is the pathway for olfactory nerve impulses?
Olfactory nerves → olfactory bulb → olfactory tract → temporal lobe.
What is olfaction?
The sense of smell.
What is gustation?
The sense of taste.
Where are receptors for gustation located?
In the tongue and throat.
Which cranial nerves transmit taste information?
Facial nerve (CN VII) and glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX).
Where is taste information sent in the brain?
The insula.
What is the sclera?
The white part of the eye (provides shade to the eye and protection)
What is the iris?
The pigmented part of the eye.
What is the pupil?
An opening in the iris controlled by smooth muscle.
What is the cornea?
The transparent outer central part of the eye anterior to the iris, refracts (bends) light rays
What is the function of the cornea?
Refracts (bends) light rays.
What is the lens?
A biconvex, transparent structure that refracts light rays.
What is the retina?
The innermost tunic of the eye that contains receptors for vision.
What are the photoreceptors of the retina?
Rods and cones.
What is the function of the retina?
Receives light information and converts it into nerve impulses.
What are extraocular muscles?
Muscles that move the eyeball.
What does the medial rectus do?
Moves the eye medially (adducts the eye).
What does the lateral rectus do?
Moves the eye laterally (abducts the eye).
What does the superior rectus do?
Elevates the eye and moves it medially.
What does the inferior rectus do?
Depresses the eye and moves it medially.
What does the superior oblique do?
Depresses the eye and moves it laterally.
What does the inferior oblique do?
Elevates the eye and moves it laterally.
Which extraocular muscle adducts the eye?
Medial rectus.
Which extraocular muscle abducts the eye?
Lateral rectus.
Which muscles elevate the eye?
Superior rectus and inferior oblique.
Which muscles depress the eye?
Inferior rectus and superior oblique.
What structures work together to refract light?
The cornea and lens.
What controls the shape of the lens?
Smooth muscle.
What shape is the lens for distance vision?
Flattened.
What shape is the lens for near vision?
Puffy/rounded.
What happens to light information in the eye?
It is converted into nervous signals.
Which nerve carries visual information to the brain?
Optic nerve (CN II).
Where does visual information ultimately travel in the cerebrum?
The occipital lobe.
What is the first step of visual processing?
Light enters through the cornea and is refracted.
What happens after light passes through the cornea?
It passes through the pupil.
What structure further refracts light after it passes through the pupil?
The lens.
Where are light rays focused?
On the retina.
What converts light rays into nerve impulses?
Photoreceptors (rods and cones) in the retina.
How do visual nerve impulses reach the brain?
Through CN II, the optic nerve.
What is the overall visual pathway through the eye?
Cornea → pupil → lens → retina → optic nerve (CN II) → brain.
What are the two main functions of the ear?
Hearing and equilibrium/balance.
What does the ear convert into nerve impulses?
Sound waves and head movement.
Where are the sensory receptors for hearing and equilibrium?
In the inner ear.
Which cranial nerve carries hearing and equilibrium information?
Vestibulocochlear nerve (CN VIII).
Where does hearing information travel in the brain?
The temporal lobe.
Where does equilibrium information travel?
The cerebellum.
What is hearing (audition)?
Detecting sound waves and converting them into nerve impulses.
What is equilibrium?
Detecting head position and coordinating movement.
What are the three regions of the ear?
External ear, middle ear, and inner ear.
What structures are part of the external ear?
Auricle, external acoustic meatus, and tympanic membrane.
What is the auricle (pinna)?
The outer mass of tissue of the ear.
What is the function of the auricle?
Collects sound waves and directs them into the auditory canal.
What is the external acoustic meatus?
The passage between the auricle and tympanic membrane.
What is the function of the external acoustic meatus?
Directs sound waves toward the tympanic membrane.
What is another name for the tympanic membrane?
Eardrum.
What is the function of the tympanic membrane?
Vibrates in response to sound and moves the auditory ossicles.
What forms the lateral boundary of the middle ear?
The tympanic membrane.
What are the auditory ossicles?
The three small bones of the middle ear.
What is the function of the auditory ossicles?
Transmit and amplify vibrations from the tympanic membrane to the inner ear.
What are the three auditory ossicles?
Malleus, incus, and stapes.
What is another name for the malleus?
Hammer.
What is another name for the incus?
Anvil.
What is another name for the stapes?
Stirrup.
What is the order of the auditory ossicles from lateral to medial?
Malleus → incus → stapes.
What is another name for the auditory tube?
Eustachian tube or pharyngotympanic tube.
What does the auditory tube connect?
The middle ear with the nasopharynx.
What is the function of the auditory tube?
Equalizes air pressure in the middle ear.
What are the two major functions associated with the inner ear?
Equilibrium and hearing.
What structures make up the vestibular system?
Vestibule and semicircular canals.
What is the function of the vestibular system?
Contains receptors involved in equilibrium/balance.
Which branch of CN VIII carries equilibrium information?
Vestibular branch.
Which inner-ear structure is associated with hearing?
Cochlea.
What is the function of the cochlea?
Contains receptors for hearing.
Which branch of CN VIII carries hearing information?
Cochlear branch.
What does the vestibular branch of CN VIII transmit?
Equilibrium/balance information.
What does the cochlear branch of CN VIII transmit?
Hearing information.
What is the pathway of sound through the external and middle ear?
Auricle → external acoustic meatus → tympanic membrane → auditory ossicles → inner ear.
What is the pathway for hearing information to the brain?
Cochlea → cochlear branch of CN VIII → temporal lobe.
What is the pathway for equilibrium information?
Vestibular system → vestibular branch of CN VIII → cerebellum.