BIOL 385 CH 10-12 NOTES

1.Describe the different types of receptors for somatic & special senses.
 Chemoreceptors- pH, oxygen, glucose
 Thermoreceptors- heat- use cation channels
 Mechanoreceptors- baroreceptors, cell stretch, vibration, sound
 Photoreceptors- photons of light
 Naked/free neural endings

2. Explain how receptors convert physical stimuli into electrical signals using the
following terms: transduction, threshold, adequate stimulus, receptive field, receptor
potential.
 Stimulus energy converted into info processed by the nervous system
 Threshold is min. stimulus
 Form of energy to which a receptor is most responsive
 Graded/receptor potential- change in sensory receptor membrane potential
*Sensory transduction converts stimuli into graded potentials
*Sensory neurons have a receptive field- sensitives have smaller area, and less sensitive larger

3.Explain how the central nervous system is able to determine modality, location,
intensity, and duration of a stimulus.
CNS determines modality: which sensory neurons are activated, and where they terminate in the
brain
Location: which receptive fields are activated, and lateral inhibition
Intensity: amount of receptors activated
Duration of stim: receptors adapt with tonic vs. phasic receptors, duration of action potentials

*The brain uses timing differences to localize sound*

-Longer stronger stimulus release more neurotransmitter

-Receptors adapt to a sustained stimulus:
Tonic-slowly adapting receptors that respond for the duration of the stimulus
Phasic- rapidly adapt to a constant stimulus and turn off

5.Trace the pathways for somatic sensation from the receptor to the somatosensory
cortex.
Pthways for somatic perception project to the cortex and cerebellum
•Primary sensory neurons–Synapse in CNS with secondary sensory
neurons •Secondary sensory neurons–Interneurons in the CNS -
synapse with tertiary sensory neurons in thalamus •Tertiary sensory
neurons–Project to somatosensory cortex and many project to
cerebellum Somatosensory cortex
Spinal cord, medulla, thalamus, sensory cortex

6.Describe the different types of somatosensory receptors.

 BIOL 385 CH 10-12 NOTES

 Touch receptors most common in the body

 Skin temp receptors are free nerve endings

7.Explain how the pain and itch are mediated by nociceptors, and describe the neural
pathways for pain.

Nociceptors –Neurons with free nerve endings–Respond to

strong noxious stimulus that may damage tissue–Found in the
skin, joints, muscles, bones, and viscera–Not found in
CNS•Activation initiates adaptive, protective response (reflex) –
Integrated in spinal cord

Initiate protective responses, histamine

CH 11

1.Describe the physiological role of the autonomic division and its

branches.

Autonomic; parasympathetic= “rest and digest”

Sympathetic=”fight or flight”
 BIOL 385 CH 10-12 NOTES

-Autonomic division is under antagonistic control

2.Compare and contrast the anatomy and chemical communication of the

sympathetic and parasympathetic branches.

- Autonomic pathways have two efferent series

- Preganglionic neurons:
- Postganglionic neurons
- Ganglion- a cluster of neuron cell bodies outside the CNS