BIOL 235 - CHAPTER 10: SENSORY PHYSIOLOGY
# Term Definition
1 Characteristics of Specialized 1. specialized receptors 2. localized to a specific
Senses region (head)
2 Specialized Senses Vision Hearing Taste Smell Equilibrium
3 Somatic Senses Touch Temperature Pain Itch Proprioception
4 Basic Sensory Pathway Stimulus Sensory receptor (transducer)
Intracellular signal (change in memb potential)
Afferent (action potential to CNS) Integration in
CNS Efferent Target Cell Response
5 Sensory Receptor Types Chemoreceptors: O2, pH, organic molecules
Mechanoreceptors: pressure, stretch, vibration, -
Baroreceptors: vessel pressure - Osmoreceptors:
osmatic pressure Photoreceptors: photons of
light Thermoreceptors: heat Nocioceptors: tissue
damage (pain and itch)
6 General Classification of Receptors Interoceptors: monitors internal Proprioceptors:
background position of jts and muscles.
Awareness of body position in space.
Exteroceptors: monitors external
7 Receptive Field Area monitored by each receptor. Can overlap
with other receptors.
8 Receptive Field Convergence Multiple primary neurons (receptors) converge
onto a single secondary neuron.
9 Increased Sensitivity 1:1 relationship between primary and secondary
neuron.
10 Lateral Inhibition Increases contrast between activated receptive
fields and inactive neighbors. 2ndary neuron
suppresses response of weaker, lateral neurons
i.e. vision - sharpens perception of visual edges
11 Primary Sensory Neuron Receptor neuron
12 Secondary Sensory Neuron CNS neuron. Receives info from primary neuron
and travels to CNS
, BIOL 235 - CHAPTER 10: SENSORY PHYSIOLOGY
# Term Definition
13 Gray Matter Location: cortex and nuclei of brain, horns of
spinal cord Function: information processing
Unmyelinated
14 White Matter Location: not in cortex and nuclei of brain,
columns of spinal cord Function: information
pathway Myelinated
15 Perceptual Threshold Level of stimulus needed in order to be aware of
a particular stimulus
16 Integration of Sensory Primary neuron to secondary neuron. Ascends
Information by Brain tracts to brain or directly via cranial nerves.
Visceral reflexes are not consciously perceived.
17 Stimulus Properties Allows for CNS to differentiate between stimulus
Dependent on which receptors activated: 1)
Modality: nature of stimulus 2) Location
Dependent on pattern of APs: 3) Intensity: # of
receptors activated and frequency of AP
(frequency coding) 4) Duration: longer series of
APs
18 Adaptation of Receptors Receptors can adapt or cease to respond if a
stimulus continues to persist. Tonic receptors
Phasic receptors
19 Tonic Receptors Slow adapting receptors that fire rapidly when
1st activated then slow and maintain firing as
long as the stimulus exists. i.e. receptors in bld
vessels under constant monitoring.
20 Phasic Receptors Fast adapting receptors that fire when 1st receive
stimulus but cease to fire if strength of stimulus
remains constant. Attuned to changes in
parameter. Allows CNS to filter out extraneous
info i.e. smell, cologne strong in the morning but
later no longer smell.
21 Somatosensory Modalities Touch Proprioception Temperature Nociception
22 Somatosensory Pathway of Pain, Stimulus Receptor Synapse at spinal cord and
Temp and Coarse Touch cross 2ndary neuron to thalamus Tertiary neuron
to somatosensory cortex
# Term Definition
1 Characteristics of Specialized 1. specialized receptors 2. localized to a specific
Senses region (head)
2 Specialized Senses Vision Hearing Taste Smell Equilibrium
3 Somatic Senses Touch Temperature Pain Itch Proprioception
4 Basic Sensory Pathway Stimulus Sensory receptor (transducer)
Intracellular signal (change in memb potential)
Afferent (action potential to CNS) Integration in
CNS Efferent Target Cell Response
5 Sensory Receptor Types Chemoreceptors: O2, pH, organic molecules
Mechanoreceptors: pressure, stretch, vibration, -
Baroreceptors: vessel pressure - Osmoreceptors:
osmatic pressure Photoreceptors: photons of
light Thermoreceptors: heat Nocioceptors: tissue
damage (pain and itch)
6 General Classification of Receptors Interoceptors: monitors internal Proprioceptors:
background position of jts and muscles.
Awareness of body position in space.
Exteroceptors: monitors external
7 Receptive Field Area monitored by each receptor. Can overlap
with other receptors.
8 Receptive Field Convergence Multiple primary neurons (receptors) converge
onto a single secondary neuron.
9 Increased Sensitivity 1:1 relationship between primary and secondary
neuron.
10 Lateral Inhibition Increases contrast between activated receptive
fields and inactive neighbors. 2ndary neuron
suppresses response of weaker, lateral neurons
i.e. vision - sharpens perception of visual edges
11 Primary Sensory Neuron Receptor neuron
12 Secondary Sensory Neuron CNS neuron. Receives info from primary neuron
and travels to CNS
, BIOL 235 - CHAPTER 10: SENSORY PHYSIOLOGY
# Term Definition
13 Gray Matter Location: cortex and nuclei of brain, horns of
spinal cord Function: information processing
Unmyelinated
14 White Matter Location: not in cortex and nuclei of brain,
columns of spinal cord Function: information
pathway Myelinated
15 Perceptual Threshold Level of stimulus needed in order to be aware of
a particular stimulus
16 Integration of Sensory Primary neuron to secondary neuron. Ascends
Information by Brain tracts to brain or directly via cranial nerves.
Visceral reflexes are not consciously perceived.
17 Stimulus Properties Allows for CNS to differentiate between stimulus
Dependent on which receptors activated: 1)
Modality: nature of stimulus 2) Location
Dependent on pattern of APs: 3) Intensity: # of
receptors activated and frequency of AP
(frequency coding) 4) Duration: longer series of
APs
18 Adaptation of Receptors Receptors can adapt or cease to respond if a
stimulus continues to persist. Tonic receptors
Phasic receptors
19 Tonic Receptors Slow adapting receptors that fire rapidly when
1st activated then slow and maintain firing as
long as the stimulus exists. i.e. receptors in bld
vessels under constant monitoring.
20 Phasic Receptors Fast adapting receptors that fire when 1st receive
stimulus but cease to fire if strength of stimulus
remains constant. Attuned to changes in
parameter. Allows CNS to filter out extraneous
info i.e. smell, cologne strong in the morning but
later no longer smell.
21 Somatosensory Modalities Touch Proprioception Temperature Nociception
22 Somatosensory Pathway of Pain, Stimulus Receptor Synapse at spinal cord and
Temp and Coarse Touch cross 2ndary neuron to thalamus Tertiary neuron
to somatosensory cortex
