General and Special Senses Flashcards

Study Notes

General and Special Sensory Receptors

General sensory receptors detect touch, pressure, temperature, pain, stretch, and vibration.
Special sensory receptors identify vision, hearing, equilibrium, smell, and taste.

Nociceptors

Nociceptors function as pain receptors, distributed throughout the body but absent in the brain.

Root Hair Plexus

Comprised of free nerve endings that wrap around hair roots to sense hair movements or distortions.

Proprioception

Proprioception gathers sensory input from mechanoreceptors about body position and limb movement, crucial for coordination.

Nasal Cavity

Serves as the interior portion of the nose, playing a vital role in olfactory perception.

Oral Cavity

Housing key structures like lips, palates, salivary glands, tongue, teeth, and periodontium, it is essential for digestion and taste.

Tongue

Functions in manipulating food for chewing and swallowing while also serving as a primary taste organ.

Optic Nerve

Transmits neural impulses from the retina in the eye to the brain, essential for vision processing.

Five Tastes

The primary taste categories are Sweet, Sour, Bitter, Umami, and Salty, contributing to flavor perception.

Types of Receptors

Includes five main receptor types:
- Mechanoreceptors (respond to mechanical stimuli)
- Thermoreceptors (detect temperature changes)
- Proprioceptors (monitor body position)
- Pain receptors (nociceptors)
- Chemoreceptors (sense chemical stimuli).

Pain Receptors

Consist of nociceptors reacting to intense chemical, mechanical, or thermal stimuli. They are categorized into three types:
- Cutaneous (skin)
- Somatic (joints & bones)
- Visceral (body organs).

Referred Pain

Describes the phenomenon where pain is perceived in a location other than its actual source.

Adaptation vs. Projection

Projected Pain is incorrectly localized due to the ascending pain pathway.
Pain Adaptation occurs when the body develops a tolerance to consistent pain stimuli over time.

Special Senses vs. General Senses

Special senses have more complex structures, localized in specific organs, including smell (olfaction), taste (gustation), balance (equilibrium), hearing, and vision.
General senses are widely distributed throughout the body and include sensations such as temperature, pain, touch, pressure, vibration, and proprioception.

Description

Test your knowledge on the general and special sensory receptors with these flashcards. Learn about nociceptors, root hair plexus, and their roles in detecting various sensations like touch, pain, and taste. Perfect for students studying anatomy and physiology.

General and Special Senses Flashcards

Choose a study mode

Podcast

Questions and Answers

What do general sensory receptors detect?

Which of these senses does not involve special sensory receptors?

What are nociceptors?

What is the function of the root hair plexus?

What does proprioception refer to?

What is the nasal cavity?

What structures are contained within the oral cavity?

What is the role of the tongue?

What is the optic nerve responsible for?

Which of the following is NOT one of the five tastes?

List the five types of receptors.

What are pain receptors also known as?

What is referred pain?

What is the difference between pain adaptation and projected pain?

What is true about special senses compared to general senses?