Somatosensory Systems

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to the somatosensory systems, emphasizing definitions and critical terms to aid in understanding and preparing for the exam.

Somatic Senses

The perception of sensation from skin, joints, and internal organs.

Transduction

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

Receptive Field

The part of the sensory field that can elicit neuronal responses when stimulated.

Afferent Axonal Types

Different types of sensory axons that relay information from receptors to the central nervous system.

Pacinian Corpuscle

A type of mechanoreceptor sensitive to vibration and pressure.

Two-Point Discrimination Threshold

The minimum distance at which two stimuli are perceived as separate.

Plasticity

The ability of the somatosensory cortex to reorganize itself based on experience and sensory input.

Golgi Tendon Organ

A proprioceptor that monitors tension in tendons and helps adjust muscle tension.

Dorsal Column/Medial Lemniscal Pathway

A pathway that transmits mechanosensory information from the body to the brain.

Adaptation

The decline in the electrical response of a receptor cell over time, even when the stimulus is still present.

Proprioceptors

Sensory receptors located in muscles and tendons that detect body position and movement.

Dermatome

An area of skin supplied by a single spinal nerve root.

Mechanoreceptors

Sensory receptors that respond to mechanical pressure or distortion.

Interoception

The sense of stimuli originating from within the body.

Afferent

Nerve fibers that carry sensory information to the central nervous system.

Exteroception

Sensitivity to external stimuli interacting with the body, such as touch, temperature, pain.

Proprioception

The ability to sense the position and movement of body parts.