Transcript SensesHHAP
Somatic and Special Senses
The Senses
Somatic Senses are general senses of touch
◦ Temperature
◦ Pressure
◦ Pain
Special senses are
◦ Smell
◦ Taste
◦ Sight
◦ Hearing
◦ Equilibrium
All of these senses occur when “stimuli”
are received through sensory receptors.
These stimuli are converted to an
electrical message that is carried to the
brain and interpreted.
Types of Receptors
Chemoreceptors: detect chemicals;
such as taste and smell
Mechanoreceptors: detect changes in
pressure; touch pressure, hearing , balance
and blood pressure
Thermoreceptors: detect changes in
temperature
Photoreceptors: detect changes in light,
responsible for vision
Somatic Senses
Touch and Pressure
◦ Merkel disk: found in the stratum basal and
perceive very light touch ex; lips and fingertips
◦ Meissner corpuscle: found in the dermis of
hairless skin and perceive light touch ex; lips,
fingertips and palms
◦ Pacinian corpuscles: found in the lower
dermis, subcutaneous. Responds to heavy
pressure
Somatic Senses
Temperature
◦ Cold receptors: located in the stratum
basale; perceive temperatures between 50o and
105oF
◦ Hot receptors: located in the dermis;
perceive temperatures between 90o and 118oF
Somatic Senses
Pain
◦ Nociceptors are found in every tissue except
the brain
◦ Pain is caused by tissue damage
Excessive stretching
Prolonged muscular contraction
Inadequate blood flow
Presence of certain chemicals
Somatic Senses: Pain
Tissue injury/irritation release of
prostaglandins stimulate receptors
PAIN prostaglandins are slowly
removed from area
Pain remains until all prostaglandins
are removed
Pain serves as a protective function;
it lets you know that tissue damage
is taking place
Acute vs. Chronic pain
Acute: sharp pain, conducted rapidly
Chronic: dull pain conducted slowly
Referred Pain
Tissue damage that takes place in the
organs of the body may cause pain in a
different area.
This happens because pain impulses travel
along common pathway and the brain
can’t tell where tissue damage is
occurring.
Ex: tissue damage that takes place in the
heart may be perceived as pain in the arm;
brain misinterprets location of tissue
injury
The Sense of Taste
Taste buds house
the receptor
organs
Location of taste
buds
◦ Most are on the
tongue
◦ Soft palate
◦ Cheeks
Figure 8.18a–b
The Tongue and Taste
The tongue is covered with projections
called papillae
◦ Filiform papillae – sharp with no taste buds
◦ Fungifiorm papillae – rounded with taste buds
◦ Circumvallate papillae – large papillae with taste
buds
Taste buds are found on the sides of papillae
Impulses are carried to the gustatory
complex by several cranial nerves because
taste buds are found in different areas
Taste Sensations
Sweet receptors: Sugars, Saccharine
Sour receptors: Acids
Salty receptors: Metal ions
Bitter receptors Alkaloids
Umami: Amino Acid called glutamate-savory as in meats,
cheese (protein heavy foods)
Taste pores are openings where food falls
into and are tasted
Gustatory hairs help direct food into the
taste pore
Anatomy of Taste Buds
Figure 8.18
Chemical Senses – Taste and Smell
Both senses use chemoreceptors
◦ Stimulated by chemicals in solution
◦ Taste has five types of receptors
◦ Smell can differentiate a large range of
chemicals
Both senses complement each other and
respond to many of the same stimuli
Olfaction – The Sense of Smell
Olfactory receptors are in the roof of the
nasal cavity
◦ Chemicals must be dissolved in mucus for
detection
Impulses sensed via the olfactory nerve
Humans can recognize over10,000 scents
Olfactory Epithelium
Figure 8.17
The Eye and Vision
Photoreceptors receive stimuli
70% of all sensory receptors are in the
eyes
Each eye has over a million nerve fibers
Protection for the eye
◦ Most of the eye is enclosed in a bony orbit
◦ A cushion of fat surrounds most of the eye
Accessory organs of the eye
Eyelid:covers the eye moistens, protects the eye
Conjunctiva: lines the inner surface of the eyelid
and outer surface of eye
Accessory organs of the eye
Lacrimal gland: secretes tears; above eye.
Lacrimal ducts carry tears into nasal cavity
Lacrimal sac collects tears, sends to nasal cavity
Tears keep eye moist but also contain the
enzyme lysozyme which reduces eye infections
Extrinsic Eye Muscles
Muscles attach to outer surface of the eye
Produce eye movements
Figure 8.2
Structure of the eye
The eye is a hollow muscular structure about
2.5cm in diameter.
It is filled with fluid that gives it shape
Figure 8.3a
Structure of the Eye
Sclera: White covering known as the
“white of the eye”
Cornea: Transparent, central anterior
portion, covering
◦ Allows for light to pass through
◦ Repairs itself easily
◦ The only human tissue that can be
transplanted without fear of rejection
Structure of the Eye
Optic nerve: carries visual impulses to the
brain
Choroid coat: middle layer of the eye;
contains lots of blood vessels to nourish eye
Structure of the Eye
Iris: a ring of muscular tissue that forms
the opening that determines how much
light enters the eye
◦ Muscles contract pupil is small
◦ Muscles relax (dilate) pupil is large
Structure of the Eye
Vitreous humor: Gel substance behind lens
◦ Keeps the eye from collapsing
◦ Lasts a lifetime and is not replaced
Aqueous humor: a thin fluid that fills the
anterior chamber of the eye (between the
cornea and lens)
◦ Constantly being formed and drained.
◦ When it doesn’t drain -glaucoma (vision going
gray
Structure of the Eye
Retina: inner lining of the eye
Macula-center of visual acuity
Macular degeneration- separation of
retina causes blindness
Structure of the Eye
Retina:
Contains receptor cells (photoreceptors)
◦ Rods: dim vision, peripheral vision, gray tones,
found on edge of retina
◦ Cones: blue, red, green cones, each sensitive
to a different wavelength
Cones are densest near the fovea centralis
(center of macula):area of retina with only cones
Structure of the Eye
No photoreceptor cells are at the optic
disk, or blind
Signals pass from photoreceptors thru the
retina to the optic nerve
Structure of the Eye
Lens: biconvex crystal-like structure
Held in place by a suspensory ligament
attached to the ciliary body
Figure 8.3a
Structure of the Eye
Light must be
focused to a point on
the retina for optimal
vision
The eye is set for
distance vision
(over 20 ft away)
The lens must change
shape to focus for
closer objects
Figure 8.9
Visual Pathway
Photoreceptors of
the retina are
stimulated by an
object
Stimulates the Optic
nerve
Message travels
across the optic
chiasma to the brain
Figure 8.11
Common Disorders of the Eye
Conjunctivitisinflammation of the
membrane that lines the
eye
Cataract-lens loses its
flexibility and
transparency (cloudy)
Glaucoma-increased
pressure in the fluid of
the eye-interferes with
optic nerve functioning
Common Disorders of the Eye
Myopia-(nearsightedness)objects at a distance are
blurry (CAN see near)
PresbyopiaFarsightedness due to
age-lens becomes stiff and
yellowish-can’t focus close
up-especially in low light –
usually happens between
40-45 years old
Common Disorders of the Eye
Amblyopia-”lazy eye”one eye has poor vision
Strabismus-also called
lazy eye-eyes are not
aligned with ,each other
“crossed eyes”
Color blindness is the
result of lack of one
cone type
The Ear
Houses two senses
◦ Hearing
◦ Equilibrium (balance)
Receptors are mechanoreceptors
Different organs house receptors for each
sense
Anatomy of the Ear
Ear is divided into 3 areas: Outer (external)
Middle ear, Inner ear
Figure 8.12
External Ear
Pinna (auricle): Collects sounds with funnel
shape
External auditory canal: narrow chamber in
the temporal bone,
Lined with skin & Ceruminous (wax) glands
Ends at the tympanic membrane (eardrum)
Carries sound to the middle ear
Figure 8.12
The Middle Ear
Air-filled cavity within the temporal bone
Only involved in the sense of hearing
Tympanic membrane: aka eardrum;
cone-shaped, responds to sound waves by
moving back and forth
Bones of the Middle Ear
◦ Malleus (hammer)
◦ Incus (anvil)
◦ Stapes (stirrip)
• Vibrations
from eardrum
move the
malleus
• These bones
transfer sound
to the inner ear
Figure 8.12
Middle Ear/Tympanic Cavity
Two tubes associated with the middle ear:
1. The opening from the auditory canal,
covered by the tympanic membrane
2. The Eustachian or auditory tube connecting
the middle ear with the throat
Allows for equalizing pressure during yawning or
swallowing. This tube is otherwise collapsed
Site of ear infections; tubes in your ears are plastic
tubes that keep Eustachian tube open
Inner Ear or Bony Labyrinth
Includes organs for hearing and balance
A labyrinth of bony chambers in temporal
bone includes:
Cochlea,
Vestibule
Semicircular
canals
Figure 8.12
Inner Ear: Semicircular canals
Loops that extend into each “dimension”
Full of jello-like fluid and hairs
As you move the jello pulls on the hairs
which sends a message to the brain about
your position
Inner Ear: Cochlea
Shell shaped organ that sends sound
vibrations through the round window to
the……
Organ of corti: contains sensory
receptors that transmit “hearing”
impulses to brain
Inner Ear:Vestibule
Contains fluid, little stones called otoliths
and hairs
When head moves fluid with otoliths
move the hairs this sends a message to
the brain on position of the head
Equilibrium
Static
◦ Helps you maintain
stability and posture of
the head and body
when not in motion
◦ Occurs in the
vestibule which
contains hairs that
bend according to
position of head
Vs
Dynamic
◦ Helps you maintain
balance when you are
in motion
◦ Occurs in the
semicircular canals
which are loops of
fluid that move hairs
depending on the
position of the body
Balance
Common Disorders of the Ear
Otitis media: ear
infection
Labyrinthitisinflammation of the inner
ear causes vertigo
(dizziness)
Meniere’s (MAIN-eeairz) Disease-chronic
condition that affects the
labyrinth and leads to
progressive hearing loss