Sensory Pathways

Question 1

What are the 4 primary stimuli?

Answer 1

• chemical (taste, smell)
• mechanical (pressure)
• thermal (temperature change)
• electromagnetic (light)

Question 2

What is transduction?

Answer 2

External stimulus (received by receptor) is converted into electrical or chemical signal

Question 3

What is a receptive field?

Answer 3

A region of sensory space that elicits a response in a sensory receptor or neurone

Question 4

What is the homunculus?

Answer 4

representation of the sensations of the human body in the brain (receptive field)

Question 5

What are the types of receptors?

Answer 5

• Mechanoreceptors (Proprioceptors)
• Baroreceptors (BP)
• Chemoreceptors
• Nociceptors (pain)
• Thermoreceptors

Question 6

What is the visceral sensory pathway?

Answer 6

Sensory receptors in organs

↓ Cranial and spinal nerves

Medulla oblongata
↓
Other autonomic centres