HSC-231 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Afferent Nerve Fiber, Special Senses, Thalamus

• School: University of Tampa
• Department: Health Science
• Course: HSC-231
• Professor: Dr.Miller

Document Summary

Part one: receptors: sensory receptor- any structure specialized to detect a stimulus, include free nerve endings to special sense organs. Sensory receptors serve as : transducer- anything that turns one form of energy into another, in this context, converting stimulus energy into a nerve signal in the process of sensory transduction . Receptor potential: the initial effect of a stimulus on a sensory cell that creates a small local electrical charge in the nervous system. Ex: you don"t feel your clothes all day (tactile), or how you adapt to a smell over time, hair follicle receptors. Adaptation: when firing frequency and conscious sensation of stimuli decline (ex: adapting to a hot tub or cold spring, smells: tonic receptors- adapt slowly, generate steady impulses. Modality receptors: chemo- chemical, thermo- temperature, mechano- pressure, touch, stretch, photo- light, noci- pain, baro- pressure, proprio- balance. Interoceptors- detect internal stimuli: proprioceptors- sense body position and movements, exteroceptors- detect external stimuli.