The Nervous System

Exteroreceptor
– located near external environment (skin)
Synesthesia
 Perceptual phenomenon in which stimulation Interoreceptor
of one sensory or cognitive pathway leads to – interprets stimuli from internal organs
automatic
 Involuntary experiences in a second sensory Proprioreceptor
or cognitive pathway. – located near moving body parts, interprets position

Ideasthesia Functional Receptor Types

– Letters and numbers evoke colors
General Senses = receptors found throughout the
body, Including joints and organs
Special senses = specialized receptors found in the
head (eyes, ears, mouth)
Sensation = feeling that occurs when a brain
interprets a sensory nerve Impulse
Chemoreceptor – chemicals, mostly found in
nose/mouth
Osmoreceptor – respond to solutes in body fluids
Thermoreceptor – temperature
Mechanoreceptor – pressure, vibration, body position
Nocireceptor – pain (chemicals released when tissue
is damaged)
Sense of Pain

Projection = the brain causes a feeling to stem from a Visceral Pain – occurs in visceral tissues such as heart,
source lungs, intestine
Referred pain – feels as though it is coming from a
Sensory adaptation = sensory Receptors stop sending different part (heart pain may be felt as pain in arm or
signals when they are repeatedly stimulated shoulder)
Acute Pain – originates from skin, usually stops when
Sensory Deprivation stimulus stops (needle prick)
 A technique initially used by neuro- Chronic Pain – dull aching sensation
psychiatrists designed to deliberately reduce
or completely remove stimuli from one or all An overview of how opioids work to block pain and
of the senses. why they become less effective the longer you use
them.
Receptor cells in the PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
 Are activated by stimuli in the environment 1. Nerve sends signal
2. Opioids slow/block signal
Receptor cells classified into 3 different types 3. Limbic system (emotions) and reward pathway
are stimulated
Cell type, position, and function
Special Senses
Free Nerve Endings
– Dendrites embedded in tissue as receiver Olfactory (smell)
respond to pain and temperature Gustatory (taste)
Hearing & Equilibrium
Encapsulated Sight
– embedded in connective tissue to increase
sensitivity (pressure and touch) Sense of Smell (Olfactory)

Specialized Odor  Receptor Cell  Olfactory bulb  Olfactory

– receptors in the retina of the eye Tract
 LIMBIC SYSTEM
Location-Based Receptor Types
Papillae = taste buds

Umami – a savory taste, is one of the five basic tastes,

Sense of Hearing

External Ear

Auricle (pinna) – outer ear auditory Canal

(external auditory meatus)

- Opening to the eardrum

Auriculares
- Group of muscles called the are responsible for
this movement.

Ear wiggling is considered a

VESTIGIAL trait
– a trait that no longer functions but is part of our
evolutionary past.

Middle Ear (tympanic cavity)

Eardrum (tympanum)

Auditory Ossicles
– malleus, incus, stapes
– transmit vibrations and amplify the signal

Auditory Tube (eustachian tube)

– connects the middle

Ear to the throat

– helps maintain air pressure