Somatosensation
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Questions and Answers

What type of tactile receptor is known for responding best to indentation?

  • Merkel cells (correct)
  • Free nerve endings
  • Pacinian corpuscles
  • Meissner corpuscles

    • Which receptor would be best suited for perceiving fine textures through transmitted vibration?

  • Meissner corpuscles
  • Merkel cells
  • SA 2 receptors
  • Pacinian corpuscles (correct)

    • Which of the following statements about spatial resolution is correct?

  • Spatial resolution is irrelevant to tactile sensations.
  • Higher thresholds equate to better spatial awareness.
  • The thigh has a high resolution due to a low threshold.
  • Fingers can discriminate two points due to high receptor density. (correct)

    • What type of mechanoreceptor is identified as responding predominantly to skin stretch?

    <p>SA 2 receptors</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do slowly adapting (SA) tactile receptors differ from rapidly adapting (FA) receptors?

    <p>SA receptors maintain response for the duration of the stimulus.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which tactile receptor is primarily responsible for maintaining grip control?

    <p>Meissner corpuscles</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Pacinian corpuscles have a small receptive field and are sensitive to pressure.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of Merkel cells in somatosensation?

    <p>They respond best to indentation and help perceive pattern, texture, and shape.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The ______ sensation provides information about the external environment through tactile receptors located in the skin.

    <p>touch</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following tactile receptors with their primary characteristic:

    <p>Merkel cells = Respond best to indentation Meissner corpuscles = High sensitivity to temporal variations Pacinian corpuscles = Respond best to vibration SA 2 receptors = Low sensitivity to temporal variations</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary function of proprioceptors in the body?

    <p>To signal dynamic changes in muscle length</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement best describes a characteristic of joint receptors?

    <p>They are primarily activated at the limits of joint motion.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of neuron innervates Golgi tendon organs?

    <p>Type 1b afferent neurons</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the term 'touch physiology' primarily refer to?

    <p>The journey of tactile information from skin to brain</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role does tactile spatial attention play in sensory processing?

    <p>It influences the expectation and processing of touch-related information.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary function of nociceptors in the skin?

    <p>To detect acute pain and harmful stimuli</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of fibers are classified as C-fibers?

    <p>Narrow, unmyelinated fibers that transmit pain slowly</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which receptor is activated by menthol, providing a cold sensation?

    <p>Trpm8</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role does proprioception play in the sensory system?

    <p>It provides information about body parts' positions and movements</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which sensation is described as resulting from an inflammatory response that makes a site of damage more sensitive?

    <p>Hyperalgesia</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What condition was suffered by 'Miss C', who was born with insensitivity to pain?

    <p>Inability to react with reflexes such as sneezing or blinking</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is kinaesthesia often used interchangeably with?

    <p>Proprioception</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What aspect of haptic perception involves knowing the location of objects using touch?

    <p>The 'Where' system</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary function of proprioceptors?

    <p>Provide information about the position and movement of the body</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Egocenter refers to the center of a reference frame that is not relative to the body's position.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary role of the Golgi tendon organs?

    <p>To sense tension (force) in the muscle fibers.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The __________ experience demonstrates how touch can change one's body image perception.

    <p>rubber-hand</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following proprioceptors with their primary functions:

    <p>Muscle spindles = Signal changes in muscle length Golgi tendon organs = Sense tension in muscle fibers Joint receptors = Signal limits of joint motion Fusimotor system = Maintain optimal spindle length</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of fibers is responsible for sensing acute pain in response to harmful stimuli?

    <p>C-fibers</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Proprioception refers to the body's ability to detect changes in external temperature.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of pain results from damage to the nervous system?

    <p>Neuropathic pain</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The sensation of cold can be activated by the chemical __________.

    <p>menthol</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the type of receptor with its corresponding sensation:

    <p>C-fibers = Slow pain sensation A-delta fibers = Fast pain sensation Trpm8 = Cold sensation Trpv1 = Warm sensation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main function of thermoreceptors in the skin?

    <p>Sense temperature changes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Individuals with insensitivity to pain do not experience injury.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary system that plays a role in the perception of movement of our limbs?

    <p>Kinaesthesia</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which pathway carries signals from pain and thermoreceptors?

    <p>Spinothalamic pathway</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The primary somatosensory cortex is located in the frontal lobe.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of the dorsal root ganglion?

    <p>Contains the cell body of primary afferent neurons.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The somatosensory map in the primary somatosensory cortex is not proportional to the ________ of the skin innervated.

    <p>area</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following components with their respective functions:

    <p>Thalamus = Relays sensory information to the cortex Primary Somatosensory Cortex = Processes tactile sensory input Dorsal Column = Carries signals from tactile receptors Ventral Pathway = Involved in integrating sensory information with memory</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Somatosensation: Body Sensation

    • Somatosensation is the sense of the body. Touch is a component of somatosensation.
    • Touch is the process of converting mechanical energy into signals in the skin. This is called transduction.
    • Exteroception is the sense of the external world.

    Tactile Receptors

    • Tactile receptors are located in the skin.
    • Mechanoreceptors are located in the dermis (beneath the epidermis)
    • Tactile receptors are classified based on:
      • Type of stimuli they respond to
      • Size of their receptive field
      • How quickly they adapt (rapidly or slowly).
    • Some receptors fire continuously while the stimulus is present (slow adaptation). Others only fire at the start and end of the stimulus (fast adaptation). Fast adapting receptors are good at detecting changes in touch.
    • Mechanoreceptors respond to pressure, vibration, and movement.

    Mechanoreceptor Types

    • Merkel cells (SA 1)

      • Respond best to indentation
      • Small receptive field
      • High spatial resolution (good at discerning fine details), low temporal resolution (not good at detecting rapid changes).
      • Close to the skin surface.
      • Used to perceive pattern, texture, and shape.

    • Ruffini endings (SA 2)

      • Respond best to stretch.
      • Large receptive field
      • Low spatial resolution, low sensitivity to temporal variations.
      • Deeper in the dermis than Merkel cells.
      • Used to perceive skin stretch and hand conformation.

    • Meissner corpuscles (FA 1)

      • Respond best to skin movement.
      • Small receptive field
      • High spatial resolution, medium temporal resolution.
      • Close to the skin surface.
      • Used to perceive slip, and maintain grip control.

    • Pacinian corpuscles (FA 2)

      • Respond best to vibration.
      • Large receptive field
      • Low spatial resolution, high temporal resolution.
      • Deeper in the dermis.
      • Used to perceive fine textures through vibrations.

    Spatial and Temporal Resolution

    • Spatial Threshold: The ability to distinguish two separate points of touch.
      • This ability depends on the density of receptors and their location.
      • Fingers have a low threshold (high spatial resolution) and thighs have a high threshold (low spatial resolution).
    • Temporal Resolution: How quickly the system can detect changes in touch.
      • Touch has a relatively fast temporal resolution (5 milliseconds).
      • Vision has a slower temporal resolution (25 milliseconds).

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    Description

    Explore the fascinating world of somatosensation, focusing on how our body perceives touch through various tactile receptors. Learn about the different types of mechanoreceptors and their functions in detecting changes in our environment. This quiz delves into the intricacies of body sensation and the mechanisms behind our sense of touch.

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