Untitled Flashcards Set

Chemical Senses: Taste and Smell

Q: What is another name for taste and smell receptors?
A: Special sensory receptors

Q: Why are they called special sensory receptors?
A: Because they detect stimuli and transmit the information to the brain for processing.

Q: Where are taste buds specifically located (3 regions)?
A: Tongue, Cheeks, Soft palate

Q: How are tastes interpreted and carried?
A: Taste buds receive flavor stimuli and send signals to the brain for interpretation.

Q: Name the five basic qualities of taste.
A:

• Sweet (sugary foods)

• Sour (citric acid, vinegar, lime)

• Bitter (nicotine, morphine)

• Salty (salt-containing foods)

• Savory/Umami (soy sauce, meats, stir-fry)

Q: How can your ability to taste help maintain homeostasis?
A: It influences hormonal, neural, and metabolic pathways to help maintain balance.

Q: How are taste and smell connected?
A: Taste buds detect flavors; nasal nerves detect scents. Together, they enhance flavor perception.

The Eye and Vision

Q: What is the function of the eyelid?
A: Protects the eye from debris and injury.

Q: What is the function of the canthus (lateral commissures)?
A: Contains glands that produce oily secretion to keep particles out.

Q: What is the function of eyelashes?
A: Filter light, prevent debris, and trigger blinking.

Q: What do meibomian glands do?
A: Produce oily secretion to lubricate eyelids and prevent sticking.

Q: What is the conjunctiva?
A: A thin mucous membrane covering the eyelids and eye’s surface; includes third eyelid.

Q: What do the lacrimal glands and ducts do?
A: Release tears with lysozyme to protect the eye.

Q: What is the function of the lacrimal sac and nasolacrimal duct?
A: Drain tears from the eye into the nasal cavity.

Structure of the Eyeball

Q: What are the three tunics (coats) of the eye and their functions?
A:

• Fibrous Tunic: Outermost, includes sclera and cornea.

• Vascular Tunic (Uvea): Middle layer; blood supply.

• Sensory Tunic (Retina): Inner layer; contains photoreceptors.

Q: Function of the sclera?
A: Posterior part of the fibrous tunic; gives eye shape and protection.

Q: Function of the cornea?
A: Transparent part that bulges forward; heals easily.

Q: Function of the iris?
A: Colored part of the eye; controls pupil size.

Q: Function of the pupil?
A: Regulates light entering the eye.

Q: Function of vitreous humor?
A: Supports lens, transmits light, maintains pressure.

Q: Function of aqueous humor?
A: Nourishes the cornea/lens; maintains pressure.

Retina & Photoreceptors

Q: What are the two types of photoreceptor cells?
A: Rods and Cones

Q: What is the fovea centralis?
A: Area with high concentration of cones for sharp vision.

Q: What is a blind spot?
A: A region of the retina with no photoreceptors.

Q: How do we compensate for the blind spot?
A: The brain "fills in" the missing visual information.

Functional Anatomy of Photoreceptors

Q: Why are circadian rhythms important in rod and cone function?
A: They regulate production based on the sleep-wake cycle.

Eye Disorders

Q: What is night blindness?
A: Poor vision in low light due to cataracts or Vitamin A deficiency.

Q: What are cataracts?
A: Clouded lenses causing hazy vision; age-related, UV exposure, smoking.

Q: What is glaucoma?
A: Pressure buildup damages optic nerve; symptoms include halos and headaches.

Q: What is color blindness?
A: Inability to distinguish colors, often genetic or due to eye disease.

The Ear: Hearing and Balance

Q: What is the function of the pinna?
A: Directs sound into the auditory canal.

Q: Function of the external auditory canal?
A: Transmits sound to the eardrum.

Q: Function of ceruminous glands?
A: Produce earwax to trap debris.

Q: Function of tympanic membrane?
A: Vibrates with sound and passes it to the middle ear.

Q: Function of auditory tube (Eustachian tube)?
A: Equalizes pressure; protects ear from loud sounds.

Q: Function of ossicles?
A: Transmit vibrations to the inner ear.

Q: Order of ossicles in sound movement?
A: Malleus → Incus → Stapes

Q: Function of vestibule?
A: Detects head position; helps with balance.

Q: Function of semicircular canals?
A: Detect angular/rotational movement.

Q: Function of cochlea?
A: Converts sound vibrations into nerve signals.

Mechanism of Hearing

Q: How does hearing work?
A: Vibrations travel to the eardrum, move ossicles, create fluid waves in cochlea, stimulate hair cells, send signals to brain.

Equilibrium and Orientation

Q: What are equilibrium receptors called?
A: Vestibular Apparatus

Q: What causes motion sickness?
A: Mismatch between vestibular and visual input, causing sensory conflict.

Developmental Aspects of Special Senses

Q: What happens to taste and smell with age?
A: They decline due to loss of chemoreceptors.

Q: Why does this decline happen?
A: Neurons are replaced more slowly, reducing sensory function.