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Questions and Answers
What are receptors?
Specialized structures present at the peripheral end of afferent neurons that are sensitive to changes in the environment.
Which of the following forms of stimuli can receptors respond to?
Match the following types of receptor structures with their characteristics:
Free nerve endings = Present in most tissues, including skin; receptors for pain, temperature, and crude touch. Encapsulated nerve endings = Rapidly adapting; examples include Meissner's corpuscles and Pacinian corpuscles. Hair follicles = Receptors in hairy skin for crude touch. Meissner's corpuscles = Receptors in non-hairy skin for fine touch and vibration sense.
Receptors always generate action potentials immediately upon receiving a stimulus.
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Free nerve endings are primarily responsible for detecting ______ and ______.
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Study Notes
Receptors
- Receptors are specialized structures at the ends of sensory neurons that respond to changes in the environment (stimuli).
- Receptors act as transducers: they convert stimuli into electrical energy, which is then transmitted as an action potential along the sensory neuron.
- Stimuli can be thermal, chemical, electrical, or mechanical.
- Receptor sensitivity is dependent on the type of receptor and the intensity of the stimulus.
- Receptor potential refers to the depolarization that occurs in a receptor upon stimulation.
- Action potential is the nerve impulse generated in response to receptor potential.
- Action potentials travel along the afferent (sensory) nerves to the central nervous system for processing.
Receptor Types
- Free nerve endings are bare nerve terminals found in most tissues, particularly the skin.
- Free nerve endings are slow or moderately adapting and detect pain, temperature, and crude touch.
- Encapsulated nerve endings are rapidly adapting and are more complex in structure.
- Hair follicle receptors are located around hair follicles in hairy skin and are responsible for detecting hair movement and crude touch.
- Meissner's corpuscles are found in non-hairy skin, particularly in the lips and fingertips, and detect fine touch and vibration.
- Pacinian corpuscles are located in subcutaneous tissue, ligaments, and joint capsules and detect pressure, vibration, and movement.
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Description
This quiz covers the crucial role of receptors in sensory neurons, their functions, and types. You'll explore how these specialized structures convert stimuli into electrical energy and generate action potentials. Understand the importance of receptor sensitivity and the different types of receptors involved in sensation.
