Unit 10: Senses and Eye

Synesthesia

A perceptual phenomenon where stimulation of one sensory pathway leads to automatic experiences in another sensory pathway.

Ideasthesia

The phenomenon where letters and numbers evoke colors.

General Senses

Receptors found throughout the body, including joints and organs.

Special Senses

Specialized receptors found in the head including eyes, ears, and mouth.

Sensation

Feeling that occurs when the brain interprets a sensory nerve impulse.

Projection

The brain causes a feeling to stem from a source.

Sensory adaptation

When sensory receptors stop sending signals after repeated stimulation.

Sensory Deprivation

A technique to reduce or completely remove stimuli from one or all senses.

Receptor Cells

Cells in the peripheral nervous system activated by environmental stimuli.

Cell type, position, function

Criteria used to classify receptor cells.

Free Nerve Endings

Dendrites embedded in tissue that respond to pain and temperature.

Encapsulated Receptors

Receptors embedded in connective tissue that increase sensitivity to pressure and touch.

Specialized Receptors

Receptors located in the retina of the eye.

Exteroreceptor

Receptors that interpret stimuli from the external environment, such as the skin.

Interoreceptor

Receptors located near external organs that interpret stimuli from internal organs.

Proprioreceptor

Receptors that interpret position near moving body parts.

Chemoreceptor

Receptor that responds to chemicals, mostly found in nose/mouth.

Osmoreceptor

Receptor that responds to solutes in body fluids.

Thermoreceptor

Receptor that responds to temperature changes.

Mechanoreceptor

Receptor that responds to pressure and vibration.

Nociceptor

Pain receptor that responds to damaging stimuli.

Visceral Pain

Pain that occurs in visceral tissues such as heart or lungs.

Referred Pain

Pain felt in a different area from its source, like heart pain felt in the arm.

Acute Pain

Pain originating from skin that typically stops when the stimulus stops.

Chronic Pain

Pain characterized by a dull aching sensation.

FLACC Scale

A scale used to measure pain in babies and young children based on Face, Legs, Activity, Cry and Consolability.

Olfactory Sense

The sense of smell, involving odor detection and processing.

Gustatory Sense

The sense of taste, involving taste buds and taste sensations.

Umami

A savory taste, one of the five basic tastes, associated with flavor enhancing ingredients.

Auricle

The outer ear structure that collects sound.

Auriculares Muscles

Muscles responsible for ear movement in some mammals.

Auditory Ossicles

Three tiny bones in the middle ear: malleus, incus, and stapes that transmit and amplify sound.

Cochlea

Part of the inner ear responsible for hearing.

Static Equilibrium

Maintaining stability and posture.

Dynamic Equilibrium

Balance during sudden movements.

Audiologist

A professional who assesses and treats hearing disorders.

Color Blindness

A genetic condition affecting the perception of colors.

Retinal Detachment

Condition where the retina is pulled away from its normal position, potentially leading to blindness.

Cataracts

A condition where clouding of the lens impairs vision.

Gene Therapy

A treatment option that involves injecting genes to replace defective ones.

Optic Nerve

Nerve that transmits visual information from the retina to the brain.

Photoreceptors

Sensor cells in the retina that detect light.

Rods and Cones

Types of photoreceptors in the retina; rods detect light intensity and cones detect color.