Topic 8 - Sensory System

What is the first step in the sensory system process?

Reception - sensory receptors detect a physical stimulus.

What is the second step in the sensory system process?

Transduction - sensory receptors convert physical energy into an electrochemical signal.

What is the third step in the sensory system process?

Transmission - neural impulses travel along nerve fibers to the brain for processing.

What type of sensory receptor has dendrites not surrounded by connective tissue?

Non-encapsulated ending.

What type of sensory receptor has sensory nerve endings enclosed in connective tissue?

Encapsulated ending.

What type of sensory receptor has distinct structural components to interpret stimuli?

Specialized receptor cell.

What do mechanoreceptors respond to?

Distortion caused by pressure.

What do nociceptors sense?

Harmful stimuli, such as tissue injury.

What do thermoreceptors detect?

Changes in temperature.

What do chemoreceptors respond to?

Specific molecules related to taste, smell, and blood chemistry.

What do photoreceptors respond to?

Particular wavelengths of light.

What do Merkel discs detect?

Light touch or pressure.

What do Ruffini endings detect?

Sustained pressure, stretching, or sliding of objects.

What do Meissner corpuscles facilitate detection of?

Low-frequency vibrations.

What do Pacinian corpuscles detect?

High-frequency vibrations and deep pressure.

What are muscle spindles?

Proprioceptors that detect changes in muscle length.

What are Golgi tendon organs?

Proprioceptors that detect tension and force of muscle contraction.

Where are carotid sinus baroreceptors located?

In carotid arteries.

Where are aortic arch baroreceptors found?

In the arch of the aorta.

What type of pain do A-delta fibers transmit?

Fast, sharp pain.

What type of pain do C fibers transmit?

Slow, aching pain.

What activates cold thermoreceptors?

Temperatures between 10-35 degrees Celsius.

What activates warm thermoreceptors?

Temperatures between 30-45 degrees Celsius.

What do central chemoreceptors detect?

Changes in pH of cerebrospinal fluid.

What do peripheral chemoreceptors monitor?

Blood oxygen and carbon dioxide levels.

Where are osmoreceptors located?

In the hypothalamus.

What type of cells are gustatory receptors?

Modified neuroepithelial cells.

What do olfactory receptors detect?

Odorants and convert them into electrical signals.

What are the two types of photoreceptors?

Rods and cones.

What is the primary function of rods?

Function in low-light conditions and motion detection.

What is the primary function of cones?

Function in bright light conditions and color vision.

What are L cones most sensitive to?

Red light.

What are M cones most sensitive to?

Green light.

What are S cones most sensitive to?

Blue light.

What causes red-green color blindness?

Defect in L and M cones.

What causes blue-yellow color blindness?

Defect in S cones.

Why are photoreceptor neurons not myelinated?

To allow light to reach them unobstructed.

What is a unique aspect of mantis shrimp vision?

They have more color receptors than humans.

What type of light can mantis shrimp see?

Polarized and ultraviolet light.

What is trinocular vision?

Each eye of mantis shrimp can judge depth and distance.

How can mantis shrimp focus their eyes?

Each eye can move and focus independently.

What allows mantis shrimp rapid color recognition?

Processing visual information directly in their eyes.