Chapter 43 Sensory Systems

These flashcards cover key concepts and definitions from Chapter 43 on Sensory Systems, aiding in exam preparation.

What are sensory receptors?

Specialized neuron endings or specialized cells in close contact with neurons.

What do exteroceptors respond to?

External stimuli such as temperature and surface pain.

What is energy transduction?

The process where a stimulus is converted into an electrical signal by sensory receptors.

What determines stimulus intensity?

The number of action potentials generated, which is determined by the intensity of graded potential.

What are tonic receptors?

Receptors that exhibit a slow response and a gradual decrease in frequency with sustained stimulus.

Define phasic receptors.

Receptors that have a fast response and only respond to the beginning and end of a stimulus.

What is the function of mechanoreceptors?

To transduce mechanical energy into electrical signals related to touch, pressure, and gravity.

What role do hair cells play in the ear?

They help maintain body position, equilibrium, and are involved in hearing and motion detection.

What is the function of gustation?

Taste receptors that detect different flavors through taste buds located in papillae on the tongue.

How does olfactory reception occur?

Odorants bind to receptors on cilia of olfactory receptor cells, activating a G protein pathway.

What are the three major tissue layers of the vertebrate eye?

Sclera, choroid, and retina.

What happens during phototransduction in rod cells?

In light, glutamate hyperpolarizes the cell, reducing neurotransmitter release, while in darkness, sodium channels open, leading to depolarization.

Describe binocular vision.

A visual perception mode where information enters both eyes simultaneously, assisting in depth perception.

What is the significance of the optic chiasm?

It is the crossing point of the optic nerves where visual information from both eyes is processed.