Trisha Marie Singson Section 1

Assignment

1. If you were to become sensory-disabled, which of the sensory systems do

you think would cause you the greatest distress? Why?

 All of the different sensory systems are important for me, but the one

thing I would not be able to live without, is probably the Visual System. I

could not imagine living in a life that does not have sunsets, movies or

colors. I honestly think, that I am very dependent on my eyesight. Without

it, I would feel like a constant burden to the people around me. I would not

be able, go to places, alone; I may need another person's guidance. I

would also not be able to enjoy, the things that I enjoy doing now such as

watching movies, reading. A lot of normal activities would feel a lot harder

to do, which means I have to give extra effort. I honestly think, that vision

is the sensory system that I could not live without. I am too much of a

“picture” type of person. I salute people, who can easily live their life, as

normal as possible without any vision.

2. Discuss the normal physiological function of the sensory system you

chose in the above question. How are these senses integrated in one’s

normal daily functions?

 The visual system as I stated above, plays an important role in all of our

lives, without the vision we would not be able to see anything. We would

not be able to see, the different colors, detect patterns such as movement

and objects, which is an essential thing in everyone’s normal daily life. It

also helps us, describe an image and see a visual object and be able to

recognize them for what they are. It is one of the many important
 functions, of the visual sensory system. Even if you are blind, or have

undergone a stroke, you could still be able to “feel” certain objects that

are in front of you; the visual system, does in fact gives us a conscious

visual perception. The rods, cones, perceiving of color and the

wavelengths are all part of the visual sensory system. They are all equally

important and to be able to function well, they would need each other,

they are somehow co-dependent on one another.

3. Discuss a disease or condition affecting the sensory system you chose in

number 1. What is this disease like? How common is it? Which part of the

sensory pathway does it affect? You may also wish to discuss a certain

person or figure afflicted with the condition.

 Glaucoma, is a visual sensory system disease. It is considered as the

second leading cause of irreversible blindness (Medicinenet) I am

somehow familiar with this type of condition, since my grandpa had this

before he died. It is when an increased pressure of the fluid inside your

eyes, causes an optical nerve damage which can lead to you, having this

type of disease. It usually leads to blindness, if not treated well (treated by

laser surgery or conventional surgery.) The retinal ganglion cell axons, is

destroyed followed by their cell bodies. Because of the destruction of the

retinal ganglion axons, the pressure linked is increased by increased

intraocular pressure.

Source: http://courses.washington.edu/conj/sensory/glaucoma.htm