Chapter 14

Flashcards covering key vocabulary related to sensory systems and the somatic nervous system.

Sensory receptors

Cells that detect stimuli and convert them into electrochemical signals.

Sensation

The activation of sensory receptors at the level of the stimulus.

Perception

The central processing of sensory stimuli into a meaningful pattern.

Transmembrane protein receptors

Proteins in the cell membrane that mediate physiological change in neurons.

Ligands

Chemicals that activate transmembrane receptors.

Exteroceptors

Receptors located near stimuli in the external environment.

Interoceptors

Receptors that interpret stimuli from internal organs and tissues.

Proprioceptors

Receptors that interpret the position of tissues as they move.

Chemoreceptors

Receptors that respond to chemical stimuli, like taste and smell.

Nociceptors

Pain receptors that interpret potentially damaging stimuli.

Mechanoreceptors

Receptors that respond to physical stimuli such as pressure and vibration.

Thermoreceptors

Receptors sensitive to temperature changes.

Somatosensation

A general sense related to touch, proprioception, and interoception.

Gustation

The sense of taste, primarily involving specialized receptors on the tongue.

Photoreceptors

Specialized cells in the retina that respond to light stimuli.

Cochlea

Structure in the inner ear responsible for transducing sound waves into neural signals.

Vestibular system

Part of the inner ear responsible for balance and spatial orientation.

Neurosensory pathways

Pathways through which sensory information travels to the brain.

Primary sensory cortex

Area of the brain where initial processing of sensory information occurs.

Motor unit

A motor neuron and all the muscle fibers it innervates.

Reflex arcs

Neural pathways that mediate reflex actions.

Corneal reflex

The eye blink reflex triggered by stimulation of the cornea.