BIOL 385 - Chapter 10: Sensory Physiology

The larger the receptive field, the

more primary sensory neurons synapse on one secondary sensory neuron.

These receptors slowly adapt, and would be activated when the skin is between 20−40∘C.

thermoreceptors

Match the stimulus to the type of receptor that typically responds to it.

A. chemoreceptor

B. mechanoreceptor

oxygen

chemoreceptor

Which is an adequate stimulus for a chemoreceptor?

odorant molecule

Match the type of receptor with the appropriate description.

A. chemoreceptors

B. touch receptors

C. thermoreceptors

D. nociceptors

The most studied examples of this type are phasic receptors called Pacinian corpuscles.

touch receptors

Most people are not actively aware of the sensation of clothes on their body throughout the day. This lack of awareness of the stimulus of clothing on the skin is due to which process?

Habituation

Visceral pain is poorly localized and can be perceived to come from a region of the body that is different from its actual location; this is called

referred pain.

Which of the following does NOT describe graded potentials?

They are always depolarizing.
They vary with the intensity of the stimulus.
They are changes to the membrane potential.
They are local changes.

They are always depolarizing.

Baroreceptors in the aortic arch and carotid bodies are mechanoreceptors that respond to the stretch in these arterial walls with changes in blood pressure. If pressure changes rapidly, the baroreceptors start a feedback mechanism that decreases blood pressure. However, if blood pressure changes slowly, as in developing hypertension, the receptors do not respond. Given this information, the baroreceptors are most likely which type of receptor?

Phasic receptors

Which is an adequate stimulus for a mechanoreceptor?

cell swelling

The receptor potential is generated at the _______.

receiving region

Sensory transduction is defined as _______.

the conversion of a stimulus to a change in membrane potential

The receptor potential _______.

amplitude can vary with the stimulus intensity, requires the appropriate stimulus and can be graded with a stimulus intensity

Which of the following describes a depolarization?

The membrane becomes less polarized.

The two-point discrimination test is used to measure

receptive field size for touch receptors.

Phasic receptors

are quick to adapt to a constant stimulus.

Which statement about sensory receptor cells is FALSE?

Many sensory receptor cells are NOT nerve cells.
Each type of sensory receptor responds only to the stimulus that defines the receptor.
Threshold is the minimal stimulus intensity required to generate an action potential.
Sensory transduction converts stimuli into graded potentials.
A graded potential is called a receptor potential.

Each type of sensory receptor responds only to the stimulus that defines the receptor.

Match the stimulus to the type of receptor that typically responds to it.

A. chemoreceptor

B. mechanoreceptor

stretch

mechanoreceptor

Match the stimulus to the type of receptor that typically responds to it.

A. chemoreceptor

B. mechanoreceptor

pH

chemoreceptor

Match the stimulus to the type of receptor that typically responds to it.

A. chemoreceptor

B. mechanoreceptor

pressure

mechanoreceptor

The modality of a stimulus can be determined within the central nervous system by

adequate stimulus from the sensory receptor cell.

Which statement about pathways for somatic perception projection is correct?

Primary sensory neurons that respond to cold sensation project to the same region of the somatosensory cortex.

Primary sensory neurons from the hands project to a specific region of the somatosensory cortex.

The tertiary sensory neurons cross-over the body's midline.

The longest of the secondary sensory neurons transmit fine touch and proprioceptive information.

The synapse for the secondary to tertiary sensory neuron is within the medulla.

Primary sensory neurons from the hands project to a specific region of the somatosensory cortex.

Convergence describes

how multiple presynaptic sensory neurons synapse on one postsynaptic neuron.

A graded potential within a sensory receptor cell is a(n)

receptor potential.

The intensity of a stimulus can be determined within the central nervous system by

population coding and/or frequency coding.

Trauma to the spinal cord can cause a loss of function. If there is trauma to only a portion of the spinal cord, several functions can be partially lost in surprising ways. If a patient had localized trauma to the right side of her spinal cord, how would that change the fine touch and nociceptive stimuli received in her cortex?

The patient would lose fine touch from the right side and nociception from the left side below the site of the damage.

Sensory receptors that respond when body temperature is below normal are called

cold receptors.

Tonic receptors

slowly decrease the frequency of action potentials generated to a constant stimulus.