Sensory Neurons

• What are sensory neurons?

  Messengers carrying information to the brain
• What is the unique structure of a sensory neuron?

  A sensory neuron has a unique structure
• What role do sensory neurons play in perception?

  • Carry information from senses to the brain
  • Enable understanding of environmental events
  • Facilitate reactions to stimuli
• Where is the cell body located in a sensory neuron?

  The cell body is between dendrites and axon
• What happens when you touch something hot?

  Sensory neurons send signals to the brain
• What are the structural components of a sensory neuron compared to a typical neuron?

  • Dendrites: Short and branched vs. multiple branched ends
  • Cell body: Between dendrites and axon vs. central location
  • Axon: Long, single fiber vs. varies in length
  • Synaptic terminals: Specialized endings vs. standard synaptic knobs
• What is the first step in how sensory neurons transmit signals?

  Stimulus triggers receptor potential in dendrites
• How does the structure of sensory neurons facilitate their function?

  Unique structure allows efficient signal transmission
• What is the axon structure of a sensory neuron?

  The axon is a long, single fiber
• How do the dendrites of sensory neurons differ from typical neurons?

  Dendrites are short and branched at one end
• What do sensory neurons convert stimuli into?

  Electrical signals
• What specialized structures do sensory neurons contain?

  Receptors
• What are the three steps in the transmission of signals by sensory neurons?

  1. Stimulus triggers receptor potential in dendrites
  2. Receptor potential creates graded potential to cell body
  3. If strong enough, triggers action potential along axon
• What happens if the graded potential is strong enough?

  It triggers an action potential along the axon
• What happens after the dendrites receive a stimulus?

  An action potential is triggered in the axon
• Why are sensory neurons important for experiencing the world?

  They allow reactions to environmental stimuli
• How do dendrites function in sensory neurons?

  They receive the stimulus
• How do sensory neurons function?

  They send signals from senses to the brain
• What is the primary function of sensory neurons?

  Transduction of stimuli into electrical signals
• What does the receptor potential create in sensory neurons?

  A graded potential that travels to the cell body