Special Senses Key Concepts

Vocabulary terms and definitions covering the fundamentals of special senses, sensory processes, steps of sensation, and receptor types based on the lecture notes.

Special Senses

Mechanisms that receive stimuli from the environment and provide information to the body regarding the environment, including touch, smell, taste, vision, and hearing.

Sensory Processes

Processes that make the body aware of stimuli in the environment and monitor body information, converting a stimulus into an electrical signal in the nervous system.

Sensation

A feeling resulting from something contacting or happening to the body.

Reception

Step one of sensation, which is dependent upon receptor type, stimulus, and receptor field.

Mechanoreceptors

Types of sensory receptors that detect sound and vibration.

Thermoreceptors

Types of sensory receptors that detect changes in temperature.

Pain Receptors

Types of sensory receptors that detect potential damaging stimuli.

Chemoreceptors

Types of sensory receptors that respond to chemicals, functioning in smell and taste.

Photoreceptors

Types of sensory receptors that detect light, functioning in vision.

Transduction

Step two of sensation.