Dr .

Sabri Saad
 Objectives
Definition
Properties of the receptors
Coding of sensory information
Classification of sensory receptors
Uses of information Detected By
Receptors
 sensory receptor
Sensory receptors :- specialized structure that
respond to specific stimuli by generating action
potential .

Receptor are transducers: (Transducer device

which changes one form of energy to another
form) In response to stimuli by creating
graded potentials or action potentials
 Properties of receptors

1- specificity

2- Excitability

3- Adaptation
 Specificity

Each types of receptor is most sensitive

to specific form of energy called its
adequate stimulus

Some receptors may respond to stimuli

other than their adequate stimuli, but in a
much higher threshold
 Adaptation of Sensory Receptors

when a continuous sensory stimulus is applied, the

receptor responds at a high impulse rate at first and
then at a progressively slower rate until finally the
rate of action potentials decreases to very few or
often to none at all.

Adaptation occurs when the sensory receptors are

subjected to an unchanged stimulus
 A tonic receptor

is a sensory receptor that adapts slowly to a stimulus

and continues to produce action potentials over the
duration of the stimulus.

- (Pain, , cold, chemical composition of blood)

- they keep the brain constantly apprised of the status

of the body and its relation to its surroundings.
 A phasic receptor:

Is a sensory receptor that adapts rapidly to a

stimulus.

- The response of the cell diminishes very quickly

and then stops.

- It does not provide information on the duration of

the stimulus

- Pressure, , hot, smell

 Excitability of receptors

sensory receptors have 3 functional regions:

1-the receptor region, which contains stimulus-gated

channels

2-the spike-generating region, which contains voltage-

gated channels

3-the conducting region, which contains voltage-gated

channels.
 The receptor region contains no
voltage-gated channels and therefore
incapable of generating action
potentials
 Coding of sensory information
All types of sensation reach the brain reach
in form of AP
The brain can discriminate 4 features for
each sensation:
Type of sensation (modality)
Site of sensation (locality)
Strength of sensation (intensity)
Duration of sensation
 1- modality (specific nerve
energies)
Each modality of sensation has specific :-
adequate stimulus,
receptor, afferent,
sensory tract
sensory area in the cerebral cortex to be
activated
-i.e. the sensory pathway for each modality is
different from the pathways of other
modalities
 2- localization (low of
projection)
To discriminate between different localities of
various stimuli

The brain projects the coming impulses of each

stimulus to the site of the receptor

Area of the cortex represent different parts of the

body & are projected ( like a geographical map)
 If the stimulus is applied along the pathway,
not directly on the receptor , this known as
the law of projection

( which explain the phenomenon of phantom

limb)
 3- Intensity

The brain discriminates

between different intensities ,
of stimulation ( weak
,moderate, strong) by
variation in:-
- the number of receptors
stimulated
- Frequencies of action
potentials generated
 4-Duration

The brain discriminates the duration of

stimulation by determining the period from the
onset of receptor activation to the end of
activation

From energy gain to energy loss

 Types of sensations
1. General senses

pain, temperature, touch, pressure, vibration

and proprioception

2. Special senses

olfaction, vision, gustation, equilibrium, and

hearing
 Classifications of Receptors
1) TRADITIONAL CLASSIFICATION

2)ACCORDING TO THE SITE OF EVENT

3) ACCORDING TO THE TYPE OF STIMULUS

1) TRADITIONAL CLASSIFICATION:
1- special senses (receptors for hearing,
vision, smell, taste, rotational and linear
acceleration)

2- Cutaenous senses (receptors in the skin for

touch-pressure, cold, warm and pain)

3- Visceral senses (receptors in the internal

structures)
2)ACCORDING TO THE SITE OF EVENT:
- Teleceptors (detect distant events e.g. visual
receptor)
- Exteroceptors(detect events at the immediate
external environment touch receptor)
- Interoceptors (detect events at internal environment
e.g. chemoreceptor)
- Proprioceptors ( changes in position of the body,
found at joints, tendons and ligaments)
3) According to the type of stimulus

mechanoreceptors

Sense physical deformation caused by stimuli

such as pressure, stretch, touch ( carotid
baroreceptors)
 Electromagnetic receptors:
Detect electromagnetic energy such as light

Photoreceptors detect light

 Chemoreceptors

Transmit information about the solute

concentration

Specific chemoreceptors respond to individual

kinds of molecules

When activated , chemoreceptors becomes less

or more permeable for certain ions ,
 Thermoreceptors:

Respond to heat, cold, help to regulate

body temperature by signaling both
surface and body core temperature
 Pain receptors:

In human , pain receptor or nociceptors are a

class of naked dendrites

They respond to excess heat, pressure or

chemical released from damaged or inflamed
tissues
Uses for information Detected By Receptors

Afferent input is essential for the control of

efferent output, both for regulating motor
behavior in accordance with external
circumstances and for coordinating
internal activities directed at maintaining
homeostasis'
 Processing of sensory input by the
reticular activating system in the
brain stem is critical for cortical
arousal and consciousness
 Central processing of sensory information
give rise to our perceptions of the world
around us

Selected information delivered to CNS

may be stored for future reference
 Sensory stimuli can have a profound impact
on our emotions . The smell of just-baked
apple pie, the sensuous feel of silk, the
sight of a loved one, hearing bad news

Sensory input can gladden, sadden, arouse,

calm, anger, frighten, or evoke any other
range of emotions