92 Questions
Which type of pain is characterized by sharp, quick pain that triggers protective reflexes?
Fast pain
Which type of pain is characterized by slow, throbbing, long-lasting pain that encourages protecting the site of damage?
Slow pain
Which channels detect even higher temperatures than TRPV1 channels and do not bind to capsaicin?
TRPM3 channels
Which receptors are found on free nerve endings in the skin and can bind to capsaicin?
TRPV1 receptors
Which pathway do pain signals take to reach the brain?
Spinothalamic pathway
Which structure is a key component of the natural pain control system and releases endogenous opioids into the spinal cord when activated by strong pain signals?
Periaqueductal gray (PAG)
Which type of pain control method may activate the endorphin-mediated pain control system?
Placebo
Which type of pain control method alters the brain's perception of pain?
Hypnosis
Which type of pain control method blocks pain signals in the spinal cord?
Spinal block
Which type of pain control method blocks chemical inflammatory signals at the site of injury?
Anti-inflammatory drugs
Which type of receptor cell responds to vibration and pressure in the skin?
Pacinian corpuscle
What is the role of stretch-sensitive Na+ channels in sensory transduction?
They open in response to stretch and cause graded receptor potentials
Which type of sensory receptor cell responds to changes in touch stimuli?
Meissner's corpuscles
What is the function of tonic receptors?
They show little or no adaptation
Which strategy is used by sensory systems to detect varied stimuli?
Both of the above
What is the function of the dorsal column system in the somatosensory pathway?
Sensory receptor cells in the skin
Where is the primary somatosensory cortex (S1) located?
Postcentral gyrus
What is the function of receptive fields in sensory processing?
To alter a receptor cell's firing rate
What is the role of the posterior parietal lobe in attention?
To select or focus on specific stimuli for enhanced processing
What is synesthesia?
A condition in which a stimulus in one modality creates a sensation in another
Which of the following is NOT a function of sensory receptor organs?
Enhancing light received from front and rear
What is the somatosensory system responsible for?
Conscious perception of touch and pressure
What is the purpose of labeled lines in sensory processing?
To keep senses distinct by traveling along separate nerve tracts
Which type of pupils are commonly found in animals with land-based predators?
Horizontal slit pupils
What is a receptor potential?
A change in membrane potential proportional to the stimulus
Which of the following is NOT a component of the somatosensory system?
Smell
What do vertical slit pupils help animals with?
Accurately judging distance without moving their head
What is the main function of circular pupils?
Tracking and following moving prey
What is the purpose of sensory transduction?
To convert energy from an environmental stimulus into a change in membrane potential
What is the purpose of sensory receptor organs?
To detect a certain stimulus
What is sensory transduction?
Sensory transduction is the conversion of energy from an environmental stimulus into a change in membrane potential.
What are sensory receptor organs?
Sensory receptor organs are organs specialized to detect a certain stimulus.
What is the purpose of horizontal pupils in animals with land-based predators?
Horizontal pupils allow animals to enhance light received from front and rear.
What is the purpose of vertical slit pupils in small ambush predators?
Vertical slit pupils help animals to accurately judge distance without having to move their head.
What is the purpose of circular pupils in foragers, pack hunters, and pursuit predators?
Circular pupils allow for high detail, precise vision - handy for tracking and following moving prey.
What are receptor cells?
Receptor cells are specialized cells that perform sensory transduction.
What are labeled lines in sensory processing?
Labeled lines are the senses kept distinct because their action potentials travel along separate nerve tracts.
What is the somatosensory system responsible for?
The somatosensory system is responsible for the conscious perception of touch, pressure, pain, temperature, position, movement, and vibration.
What is a receptor potential?
A receptor potential is a local, graded change in membrane potential that is proportional in size to the stimulus that caused it.
What do labeled lines tell the somatosensory system?
Labeled lines tell the somatosensory system where a sensation is occurring and the specific type of touch being experienced.
What is the role of the Pacinian corpuscle in sensory transduction in the somatosensory system?
Opening of stretch-sensitive Na+ channels (mechanoreceptors) 3. Na+ entry $->$ graded receptor potential 4. If receptor potential reaches threshold $->$ AP
What are the six aspects of sensory processing?
Frequency Coding, Adaptation, Suppression, Pathways, Receptive fields, Attention
How does a single neuron convey stimulus intensity?
By changing the frequency of its action potentials
What is range fractionation?
It occurs when different cells have different thresholds for firing, over a range of stimulus intensities
What are the two strategies used by sensory systems to detect varied stimuli?
- Use multiple versions of the same receptor cell 2. Use different receptor cells to respond to different types of stimuli
What is sensory adaptation?
It is a progressive decrease in a receptor's response to sustained stimulation
How can a constant stimulus be suppressed?
By removing the stimulus or using top-down processing where higher brain centers suppress some sensory inputs and amplify others
What are the three components of the somatosensory pathway?
- Specialized thalamic nucleus 2. Primary sensory cortex 3. Nonprimary/secondary sensory cortex
Where is the primary somatosensory cortex (S1) located?
In the postcentral gyrus
What is a receptive field?
It is the area in which the presence of a stimulus will alter a receptor cell's firing rate
What are nociceptors and where are they found?
Nociceptors are pain receptors found on free nerve endings in the skin.
What are TRPV1 channels and what do they detect?
TRPV1 channels are cation channels that open at high, dangerous temperatures. They also bind capsaicin, the 'hot' chemical in chili peppers.
What are TRPM3 channels and what do they detect?
TRPM3 channels detect even higher temperatures than TRPV1 channels and do not bind to capsaicin.
What types of sensory neurons are nociceptors found on?
Nociceptors are found on sensory neurons with thin, unmyelinated C fibers and large, myelinated A delta (Aδ) fibers.
What is the difference between fast pain and slow pain?
Fast pain (first pain) is sharp and quick, triggering protective reflexes. Slow pain (second pain) is slow, throbbing, and long-lasting, encouraging the protection of the site of damage.
How do pain signals reach the brain?
Pain signals reach the brain via the anterolateral or spinothalamic pathway, which is different from the touch/vibration sense pathway.
What is the key structure in the natural pain control system?
The periaqueductal gray (PAG) is a key structure in the natural pain control system.
How does the periaqueductal gray (PAG) control pain?
When activated by strong pain signals, the PAG releases endogenous opioids (like endorphins) into the spinal cord, inhibiting ascending pain signals and acting as pain 'gates' (according to the gate control theory).
What are some examples of opioid drugs?
Examples of opioid drugs include morphine, codeine, heroin, and fentanyl.
How do opioid drugs act as analgesics?
Opioid drugs bind to opioid receptors in the spinal cord, gating pain signals directly.
Receptor potentials are caused by sensory ________.
stimulus
The Pacinian corpuscle is a skin receptor cell that responds to ________ and pressure.
vibration
A single neuron can convey stimulus intensity by changing the ________ of its action potentials.
frequency
Range fractionation takes place when different cells have different ________ for firing, over a range of stimulus intensities.
thresholds
Two strategies used by sensory systems to detect varied stimuli are using multiple versions of the same ________ cell and using different ________ cells to respond to different types of stimuli.
receptor, receptor
Sensory adaptation is a progressive decrease in a receptor’s response to ________ stimulation.
sustained
Aspects of sensory processing include frequency coding, adaptation, ________, receptive fields, and attention.
suppression
The somatosensory pathway consists of sensory receptor cells in the ________, dorsal column system, ventral posterior thalamus (VPL), medial lemniscus, and primary somatosensory cortex (S1).
skin
The primary somatosensory cortex (S1) is located in the ________ gyrus.
postcentral
Receptive fields are areas in which the presence of a stimulus will alter a receptor cell’s firing ________.
rate
Pain Nociceptors – pain receptors found on free nerve endings in the ______
skin
Some nociceptors contain TRPV1 channels, cation channels open at high, dangerous temperatures, also bind ______ – “hot” chemical in chili peppers
capsaicin
Found on nociceptor sensory neurons with thin, unmyelinated ______ fibers
C
TRPM3 channels: detect even higher temperatures than TRPV1, do not bind to ______
capsaicin
Found on nociceptor sensory neurons with large, myelinated A delta (Aδ) ______
fibers
Fast pain (first pain) – sharp, quick pain that triggers protective ______
reflexes
Carried by ______ fibers
Aδ
Slow pain (second pain) – slow, throbbing, longlasting pain that encourages protecting site of ______
damage
Carried by ______ fibers
C
Pain signals reach brain via anterolateral or spinothalamic ______ (different from touch/vibration sense)
pathway
Sensory receptor organs are organs specialized to detect a certain ______.
stimulus
Horizontal pupils allow animal to enhance light received from ______ and ______.
Animals evolve sensory organs that are specialized to help them ______
survive
Horizontal pupils allow animal to enhance light received from ______ and ______
front, rear
Vertical slit pupils help animals to accurately judge distance without having to move their ______
head
Circular pupils allow for high detail, precise vision – handy for tracking and following moving ______
prey
Receptor cells – specialized cells that perform ______
sensory transduction
Labeled lines tell the somatosensory system: where a sensation is ______. the specific type of touch being ______
occurring, experienced
Receptor potential – local, graded change in Vm that is proportional in size to the ______ that caused it
stimulus
The Pacinian corpuscle is a skin receptor cell that responds to ______ and pressure
vibration
Sensory adaptation is a progressive decrease in a receptor’s response to ______ stimulation
repeated
Nociceptors – pain receptors found on free nerve endings in the ______
skin
Study Notes
Pain Detection
- Sharp, quick pain that triggers protective reflexes is characterized as fast pain or first pain, carried by Aδ fibers.
- Slow, throbbing, long-lasting pain that encourages protecting the site of damage is characterized as slow pain or second pain, carried by C fibers.
Pain Receptors
- TRPV1 channels detect high temperatures and bind to capsaicin.
- TRPM3 channels detect even higher temperatures than TRPV1 channels and do not bind to capsaicin.
- Nociceptors, found on free nerve endings in the skin, are pain receptors that can bind to capsaicin.
Pain Signals
- Pain signals take the anterolateral or spinothalamic pathway to reach the brain.
- The periaqueductal gray (PAG) is a key component of the natural pain control system and releases endogenous opioids into the spinal cord when activated by strong pain signals.
Sensory Processing
- The six aspects of sensory processing are frequency coding, adaptation, receptive fields, attention, transduction, and transmission.
- Sensory systems use two strategies to detect varied stimuli: using multiple versions of the same receptor cell and using different receptor cells to respond to different types of stimuli.
- Sensory adaptation is a progressive decrease in a receptor's response to repeated stimulation.
Somatosensory System
- The somatosensory pathway consists of sensory receptor cells in the skin, dorsal column system, ventral posterior thalamus (VPL), medial lemniscus, and primary somatosensory cortex (S1).
- The primary somatosensory cortex (S1) is located in the postcentral gyrus.
- Receptive fields are areas in which the presence of a stimulus will alter a receptor cell's firing rate.
Receptors and Pupils
- Receptor cells are specialized cells that perform sensory transduction.
- Labeled lines tell the somatosensory system where a sensation is located and the specific type of touch being applied.
- Vertical slit pupils help animals accurately judge distance without having to move their heads.
- Circular pupils allow for high detail, precise vision – handy for tracking and following moving prey.
- Horizontal pupils enhance light received from above and below.
Test your knowledge on sensory systems, sensory transduction, and functional processing in sensory pathways with this quiz. Explore the pain system and learn about pain control methods. Find answers to quizzes 1, 2, and 3. Understand how sensory receptor organs detect and convert environmental stimuli into changes in membrane potential.
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