Types of Mechanoreceptors:
Ruffini Corpuscles: Sensitive to pressure and sustained touch, located in the dermis.
Merkel's Discs: Touch-sensitive receptors also in the epidermis.
Meissner's Corpuscles: Responsible for light touch discrimination.
Pacinian Corpuscles: Onion-shaped corpuscles sensitive to deep pressure and vibration, found in the dermis.
Free Nerve Endings: Primarily responsible for pain, itch, and temperature sensations.
Activity Description:
One partner closes their eyes while the other uses a pen to mark their palm.
The person with their eyes closed must then point to the same spot marked on their palm.
Repeat the activity on the back of the hand and forearm to see how accurate the sense of touch is.
Nociceptors (Pain Receptors):
Free nerve endings that detect pain, itch, and temperature, mainly located in the epidermis and dermis.
Examples include Ruffini and Meissner's corpuscles for different sensations.
Taste Receptors (Gustatory Epithelium):
Found in taste buds located on the tongue and associated structures (e.g., epiglottis, tonsils).
Types of taste receptors include those for sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami, with contributions from Vallate and Fungiform papillae.
Olfactory Receptors (Smell):
Located in the olfactory epithelium lining the nasal cavity, playing a crucial role in the olfactory process.
Function: Respond to temperature changes.
Located in the epidermis and dermis, capable of detecting pain, heat, and cold through various nerve endings such as:
Krause End Bulbs: Cold sensitivity.
Ruffini Endings: Warmth sensitivity.
Pacinian Corpuscles: Detect pressures.
Role: Sense body position and movement.
Located in muscles and tendons, detecting stretch and tension for coordination of movement and balance.
Include muscle spindle fibers and Golgi tendon organs.
Parts of the Ear:
Outer Ear: Includes the helix, auricle, and external acoustic meatus.
Middle Ear: Contains malleus, incus, stapes (ossicles), and the tympanic membrane (eardrum).
Inner Ear: Comprised of structures like the cochlea and vestibular apparatus, responsible for hearing and balance.
Key Structures:
Cornea, Lens, Iris: Essential for focusing light.
Retina: Contains photoreceptor cells responsible for converting light into neural signals.
Optic Nerve: Transmits visual information from the retina to the brain.
Major Regions:
Cerebral Cortex: Divided into lobes (frontal, parietal, occipital, temporal) responsible for various sensory processes.
Brain Stem: Involved in basic life functions and relaying signals between the brain and spinal cord.
Cerebellum: Key player in motor control, coordination, and balance.
Frontal Lobe: Controls voluntary movements and higher cognitive functions.
Parietal Lobe: Processes sensory information related to touch, taste, and temperature.
Temporal Lobe: Engaged in auditory processing and memory.
Occipital Lobe: Primarily dedicated to vision.