Senses and Perception Overview

These flashcards cover key concepts related to the senses, including definitions of various sensory components and processes.

Sensory Receptors

Cells that respond to stimuli and trigger nerve impulses to the cerebral cortex for processing.

General Senses

Senses such as pain, touch, pressure, temperature, and proprioception that are spread throughout the body.

Special Senses

Senses such as sight, hearing, taste, and smell that are localized to specific areas.

Photoreceptors

Cells in the eyes that detect light; include rods and cones.

Rods

Photoreceptors that function in dim light and contain rhodopsin.

Cones

Photoreceptors that detect color and function in bright light.

Accommodation

The process of changing the shape of the lens to focus an object on the retina.

Myopia

Near-sightedness, caused by a lens being too thick or an eyeball being too long.

Hyperopia

Far-sightedness, caused by a lens being too thin or an eyeball being too short.

Astigmatism

An irregularity in the lens that affects vision.

Presbyopia

Loss of lens elasticity due to aging, often resulting in difficulty focusing.

Olfactory Receptors

Chemoreceptors in the nasal cavity that detect smell.

Static Equilibrium

The position of the head in relation to gravity, maintained by the vestibule.

Dynamic Equilibrium

The sense of head movement in rotational or angular directions, detected by semicircular canals.

What are Papillae

taste pores & taste hairs that are found in

projections on the tongue

4 types of taste receptors

Sweet , Salty, sour, bitter

Gustatory

Relating to the sense of taste.