Special Senses and Endocrine System

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to the special senses (olfaction and gustation) and the endocrine system, based on lecture notes.

Generator Potentials

Changes in the membrane potential of a sensory neuron that occur in response to stimuli.

Olfaction

The sense of smell, involving the detection of odor molecules by olfactory receptor cells.

Sensory Organs of Gustation

Structures involved in the sense of taste, including taste buds on the tongue.

Papillae

Small bumps on the tongue containing taste buds, classified as fungiform, foliate, or circumvallate.

Aqueous Humor

A clear fluid in the anterior cavity of the eye that helps maintain intraocular pressure.

Vitreous Humor

A gel-like substance in the posterior cavity of the eye that helps maintain the shape of the eyeball.

Fovea Centralis

A small depression in the retina where visual acuity is highest due to a concentration of cones.

Photoreceptors

Cells in the retina (rods and cones) that detect light and convert it into neural signals.

Stereocilia

Hair-like projections on the surface of hair cells in the inner ear that detect sound vibrations.

Kinocilia

A single, longer hair-like structure found in some hair cells, important for balance and hearing.

Endocrine System

A collection of glands that secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream to regulate various body functions.

Hormonal Action Mechanisms

The way hormones exert their effects on target cells, including G-Protein coupled receptors and cytoplasmic/nuclear receptors.

Negative Feedback

A regulatory mechanism in which a change in a physiological variable triggers a response that counteracts the initial change.

Thyroid Gland

An endocrine gland located in the neck that produces hormones regulating metabolism, growth, and development.

Parathyroid Glands

Small glands located behind the thyroid that produce parathyroid hormone, regulating calcium levels.

Adrenal Glands

Glands located atop the kidneys that produce hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline, involved in stress responses.

Diabetes Mellitus

A metabolic disease characterized by high blood sugar levels due to insulin issues.

Homeostasis

The maintenance of stable internal conditions in an organism despite changes in the external environment.

Rods

__ are photoreceptors used for vision in low light environments

Cones

__ are responsible for color vision and high visual acuity in bright light.

Optic Disc

Often called the "blind spot," it is the area of the retina where the optic nerve exits and contains no Photoreceptors.

Cochlea

A fluid-filled, spiral structure in the inner ear that contains the organ of Corti, responsible for converting sound waves into nerve impulses.

Auditory Ossicles

The three smallest bones in the human body (Malleus, Incus, and Stapes) located in the middle ear that amplify and transmit sound.

Pituitary Gland

Known as the "master gland," it resides at the base of the brain and regulates other endocrine glands, such as the Thyroid and Adrenal glands.

The Pancreas

An organ that functions in both the digestive and endocrine systems, secreting Insulin and Glucagon to maintain blood glucose homeostasis.

Lacrimal Apparatus

A group of structures that produce and drain lacrimal fluid (tears) to clean, lubricate, and protect the eye.

What structures does the Lacrimal Apparatus include

the lacrimal gland, ducts, and canals

Conjunctiva

A thin, protective mucous membrane lining the inner eyelids and covering the anterior surface of the sclera to prevent the eye from drying out.

Palpebrae

Anterior folds of skin and muscle that protect the eye from injury and light, and spread lubricating secretions across the eyeball through blinking.

Extrinsic Eye Muscles

Six skeletal muscles attached to the outer surface of the eye that provide precise movements in multiple directions to track objects