NERVOUS SYSTEM Session 5

Question 1

What receptors are involved in sensory transduction and what are they responsible for ?

Answer 1

• Exteroceptors : detect stimuli from outside the body
• Interoceptors : receive stimuli from inside the body

Question 2

what are the different categories of sensory receptors and what do each of them respond to ?

Answer 2

• Chemoreceptors : responds to chemical substances ( taste , smell and blood pH )
• Photoreceptors : responds to light
• Mechanoreceptors : responds to mechanical forces ( hearing , balance , touch , blood pressure )
• Thermoreceptors ; responds to changes in temperature

Question 3

What is sensory adaptation ?

Answer 3

• This is when there is a decrease in response to a stimulus over time.
  For example, when you smell an odor at first and later. arent aware that its even there

Question 4

What are the two major components of somatic senses and what are they associated with ?

Answer 4

• One for detection of mechanical stimuli and another for painful stimuli and temperature.
• They are associated with the skin , muscles , joints and viscera

Question 5

For somatic senses, what are the different categories of receptors ?

Answer 5

• Proprioceptors
• Cutaneous Receptors
• Pain receptors

Question 6

What are proprioceptors involved in ?

Answer 6

• They are mechanoreceptors that are involved in body perception as well as reflex actions that maintain muscle tone , equilibrium and posture.

Question 7

What are cutaneous receptors involved in ?

Answer 7

• They make skin sensitive to touch , pressure , temperature and pain.

Question 8

What are pain receptors responsible for ?

Answer 8

• When tissues are damaged by toxins or mechanical , thermal or electrical stimuli they release chemicals called prostaglandins which bind to nociceptors ( free nerve endings )

Question 9

What is the meaning of Referred Pain ?

Answer 9

• This is when the stimulation of nociceptors in internal organs is felt as pain elsewhere.

Question 10

Where are the taste buds located ?

Answer 10

• Primarily located around papillae but are also present on the hard palate , the pharynx and the epiglottis

Question 11

What are the five main types of taste receptors ?

Answer 11

• Sweet, sour , salty , bitter and umami (savoury)

Question 12

How does the brain receive taste information ?

Answer 12

• The taste buds have supporting cells and taste cells with microvilli , so when molecules bind to receptor proteins on the microvilli , nerve signals are sent to the gustatory ( taste ) cortex in the parietal lobe.

Question 13

What in the nasal cavity helps with taste ?

Answer 13

• Olfactory cells that area found in the olfactory epithelia