L1 - Sensory physiology

• What are the special senses?

  Gustation, olfaction, hearing, equilibrium, vision
• What is the role of sensory receptor cells?

  They detect incoming stimuli
• What are the components of a sensory system?

  • Sense organ
  • Afferent sensory neurons
  • Associated CNS processing areas
• Where are sensory receptor cells typically located?

  In the head region
• What is the function of a sense organ?

  It includes receptor cells and accessory tissues
• What is a graded potential?

  A local change in membrane potential
• What triggers an action potential in neurons?

  Net graded potential exceeds threshold potential
• What are the steps of sensory reception?

  1. Reception of a stimulus
  2. Transduction of the signal
  3. Transmission of signal to integrating center
  4. Perception of the stimulus
• What types of receptors are classified by stimulus modality?

  Photoreceptor, chemoreceptor, mechanoreceptor
• How do sensory receptor proteins function?

  They detect specific sensory stimuli
• What is the role of ion channels in sensory receptors?

  They respond to specific stimuli
• What happens when a stimulus triggers a sensory receptor cell?

  It leads to a graded potential known as receptor potential
• How do neuronal and epithelial sensory receptor cells differ in signal processing?

  Neuronal cells generate action potentials; epithelial cells release neurotransmitters
• What is the function of G protein-coupled receptors?

  They are coded for specific ligands/stimuli
• What is the significance of the trigger zone in sensory neurons?

  It is where action potentials are generated
• What is the primary visual cortex responsible for?

  Processing visual information
• What is the role of amplifier enzymes in G protein-coupled receptor signaling?

  They modify second messengers
• What type of channels are involved in action potentials?

  Voltage-gated channels
• What is the difference between depolarization and hyperpolarization?

  Depolarization is less negative; hyperpolarization is more negative
• How does the perception of a stimulus occur?

  At the integrating center in the CNS
• What is the function of accessory tissues in sensory organs?

  Support and enhance sensory function
• What is the relationship between receptor potential and action potential in sensory neurons?

  Receptor potential triggers action potential
• What is the role of neurotransmitters in sensory receptor cells?

  They act on afferent neurons to trigger action potentials
• What is the significance of the conformational change in receptor proteins?

  It leads to a graded potential
• How do sensory receptor cells adapt to stimuli?

  They can become less responsive over time
• What is the function of photoreceptors?

  They detect light stimuli
• What is the role of mechanoreceptors?

  They respond to mechanical stimuli
• What is the function of chemoreceptors?

  They detect chemical stimuli
• What is the significance of the sensory receptor cell's specialization?

  It allows detection of specific stimuli
• How do sensory systems integrate information?

  Through processing in associated CNS areas
• What is the role of the optic chiasm?

  It is where optic nerves cross
• What is the function of the lateral geniculate nucleus?

  It processes visual information from the eyes
• How does the visual system differ from other sensory systems?

  It relies heavily on photoreceptors
• What is the primary function of the iris?

  To regulate the amount of light entering the eye
• What is the role of the cornea in vision?

  It helps focus light onto the retina
• What is the function of the occipital lobe?

  It processes visual information
• What is the significance of the visual field?

  It represents the area visible to the eyes
• How do sensory receptor cells contribute to perception?

  They transduce stimuli into signals for processing
• What is the role of the optic tracts?

  They carry visual information to the brain
• What is the function of the optic radiation?

  It transmits visual information to the primary visual cortex