Phyana Chapter 9 Senses

Senses ability to perceive stimuli. It is the means by which the brain receives information about the environment and the body. Sensation or Perception the conscious awareness of stimuli received by sensory receptors. Stimuli can be received from both inside and outside of the body, but stimulation of sensory receptors does not immediately result in sensation. Results when action potential reaches the cerebral cortex. Sensory Receptors sensory nerve endings or specialized cells capable of responding to stimuli by developing action potentials. Several types of receptors are associated with both the Special sense and the General sense, and each respond to a different type of stimulus: Mechanoreceptors respond to mechanical stimuli, such as the bending or stretching of receptors Chemoreceptors respond to chemicals, such as odor molecules Photoreceptors respond to light Thermoreceptors respond to temperature changes Nociceptors respond to stimuli that result in the sensation of pain Five Senses (then) 1.) Smell 2.) Taste 3.) Sight 4.) Hearing 5.) Touch Two Basic Groups of Senses 1.) General Senses have receptors distributed over a large part of the body. These include the senses of touch, pressure, pain, temperature, vibration, itch, and proprioception (sense of movement and position of the body and limbs). Receptors for the General Senses - Most receptors are associated with the skin. Others are associated with deeper structures, such as tendons, ligaments, and muscles. 1.) Free Nerve Endings Simplest and most common receptors. Relatively unspecialized neuronal branches similar to dendrites Distributed throughout almost all parts of the body Respond to painful stimuli, temperature, itch, and movement i.) Cold Receptors respond to decreasing temparatures but stopd responding at temperatures below 120C ii.) Warm Receptors respond to increasing temperatures but stop responding at temperatures above 470C.

2.) Touch Receptors More complex than free nerve endings, and many are enclosed by capsules. There are several types of touch receptors: i.) Merkel Disks small, superficial nerve endings involved in detecting light touch and superficial pressure ii.) Hair Follicle Receptors associated with hairs, are also involved in detecting light touch

Two divisions of General Senses. A. Somatic Senses provide sensory information about the body and the environment. B. Visceral Senses provide information about various internal organs, primarily involving pain and pressure. 2.) Special Senses more specialized in structure and are localized to specific parts of the body. The special senses are Smell, Taste, Sight, Hearing, Balance.