Human Sensory Organs I

Welcome to the 21st century electronic science classroom. This set of vocabulary flashcards will aid your learning of (1) classification of receptors; (2) location of receptors; and (3) five sense organs. Please use these flashcards the new features Memorizing, Learning, and Quiz modes. This set I flashcards cover the following topics: (a) Sensory Receptors; (b) Classification of Receptors; (c) Classification by Stimulus Detected; (d) Olfactory Sensory (smell) and (e) Gustatory Sensory (taste).

54 cards   |   Total Attempts: 188
  

Cards In This Set

Front Back
Sensory receptors
Is a sensory nerve ending that responds to a stimulus in the internal or external environment of an organism.
Receptor potential
A type of graded potential, is the transmembrane potential difference produced by activation of a sensory receptor.
Sensation
Is interpretation of sensory nerve impulses by the brain as an awareness of an internal or external event; for example feeling heat on your skin.
Adaptation
Means that the magnitude of the receptor potential decreases over a period in response to a continuous stimulus.
General Sense Organs
A specialized organ or structure, such as the eye, ear, tongue, nose, or skin, where sensory neurons are concentrated and which functions as a receptor.
Somatic senses
The faculty of bodily perception; sensory systems associated with the body; includes skin senses and proprioception and the internal organs.
Two-Point Discrimination
Is the ability to discern that two nearby objects touching the skin are truly two distinct points, not one.
Exteroceptors
Are receptors located on or very near the body surface and respond most frequently to external stimulus that arises external to the body.
Cutaneous receptors
Are the types of sensory receptor found in the dermis or epidermis. They are a part of the somatosensory system.
Visceroceptors
Group of receptors that includes those located in visceral organs. Their stimulation gives rise to poorly localized and ill-defined sensations or to pain.
Proprioceptors
A sensory receptor that receives stimuli from within the body, especially one that responds to position and movement.
Mechanorecptors
Any of the sense organs that respond to vibration, stretching, pressure, or other mechanical stimuli.
Chemoreceptors
Receptors of this nature are activated by the amount or changing concentration of chemicals. For example, taste buds.
Thermoreceptors
A sensory receptor that responds to changes in either heat and cold.
Nociceptors
This type of receptor is activated by intense stimuli of any type that results in tissue damage. The sensation produced is one of pain.