BIO 102 Lecture Notes - Lecture 13: Eardrum, Tectorial Membrane, Inner Ear
Document Summary
We sense; temperature, light, magnetic and electrical fields. Echolocation: use of sonar to hunt where sight is not affective. Electrolocation: fish produce high-frequency electric fields wit electric organs in their trail. Sensory receptor molecules respond to certain stimuli and not others: specialized. When a sensory receptor is stimulated, it produces an electrical signal called receptor potential. Axons of thee sensory receptors are connected directly to cns. If the receptor potential is positive enough, an action potential forms. The more positive the receptor potential, the higher the frequency of action potential formation. Receptor potentials vary in size and the intensity of a stimulus. (action potentials are always the same size) The stronger the stimulus, the larger the receptor potential. Know the difference between the potentials for the test. Stimulus intensity is encoded by the frequency of action potential. Sensory receptors: contained within structures that respond to a particular stimulus.
