Biology 235 Human Anatomy and Physiology

Study Guide

Chapter 17
The Special Senses

Objectives

After completing this chapter, you should be able to

  1. describe the receptors for olfaction and the neural pathway for smell.
  2. describe the gustatory receptors and the neural pathway for taste.
  3. list and describe the accessory structures of the eye and the structural components of the eye.
  4. discuss image formation by describing refraction, accommodation and constriction of the pupil.
  5. describe how photoreceptors and photopigments function in vision.
  6. describe the retinal processing of visual input and the neural pathway of nerve impulses from the retina to the brain.
  7. describe the anatomical features of the ear.
  8. list the principal events in the physiology of hearing.
  9. identify the receptor organs for equilibrium, and describe how they function.
  10. describe the auditory and equilibrium pathways.

Keywords and Topics

Make certain that you can define, and use in context, each of the terms listed below, and that you understand the significance of each of the concepts.

  1. Describe the receptors for olfaction and the neural pathway for smell.
    1. olfaction or smell
      1. olfaction
        1. olfactory epithelium
        2. olfactory receptor cells
        3. olfactory cilia
        4. odorants
        5. supporting cells
        6. basal cells
        7. olfactory glands or Bowman’s glands
      2. physiology of olfaction
      3. odour threshold and adaptation
        1. olfactory pathway
        2. olfactory (I) nerves
        3. olfactory bulbs
        4. olfactory tracts
        5. primary olfactory area
  2. Describe the gustatory receptors and the neural pathway for taste.
    1. gustation or taste
      1. taste buds
      2. supporting cells
      3. gustatory receptor cells
      4. gustatory microvilli or gustatory hairs
      5. taste pore
      6. basal cells
      7. papilla (plural is papillae)
        1. vallate or circumvallate papillae
        2. fungiform papillae
        3. foliate papillae
        4. filiform papillae
      8. physiology of gustation
      9. taste thresholds and adaptation
      10. gustatory pathway (all details in the paragraph)
  3. List and describe the accessory structures of the eye and the structural components of the eye.
    1. vision
      1. accessory structures of the eye
        1. eyelids or palpebrae
        2. palpebral fissure
        3. lacrimal caruncle
        4. tarsal plate
        5. tarsal glands or Meibomian glands
        6. conjunctiva
        7. eyelashes and eyebrows
        8. lacrimal apparatus
          1. lacrimal fluid or tears; lacrimation
          2. lacrimal glands
          3. lacrimal ducts
          4. lacrimal puncta
          5. lacrimal canaliculi
          6. lacrimal sac
          7. nasolacrimal duct
          8. lysozyme
        9. extrinsic eye muscles (six muscles)
        10. periorbital fat
      2. anatomy of the eyeball
        1. wall of the eyeball (three major layers):
        2. fibrous tunic
          1. cornea
          2. sclera
          3. scleral venous sinus or canal of Schlemm
        3. vascular tunic
          1. choroid
          2. ciliary body
          3. ora serrata
          4. ciliary processes
          5. zonular fibers (or suspensory ligaments)
          6. ciliary muscle
          7. iris
          8. pupil
          9. circular muscles (constrictor) or sphincter pupillae
            1. radial muscles (dilator) or dilator pupillae
        4. retina
          1. optic disc
          2. pigmented layer
          3. neural layer (3 major sublayers):
            1. photoreceptor layer
            2. bipolar cell layer
            3. ganglion cell layer
          4. horizontal cells
          5. amacrine cells
          6. rods
          7. cones
          8. blind spot
          9. macula lutea
          10. central fovea (area of highest visual acuity or resolution)
        5. lens
        6. interior of the eyeball
          1. anterior cavity
          2. anterior chamber
          3. posterior chamber
          4. aqueous humour
          5. vitreous chamber
          6. vitreous body
          7. intraocular pressure
  4. Discuss image formation by describing refraction, accommodation and constriction of the pupil.
    1. image formation
      1. refraction of light rays
      2. accommodation
      3. near point of vision
      4. presbyopia
      5. refraction abnormalities
      6. emmetropic eye
      7. myopia
      8. hypermetropia or hyperopia
      9. astigmatism
      10. constriction of the pupil
      11. convergence
      12. binocular vision
  5. Describe how photoreceptors and photopigments function in vision.
    1. photoreceptors
    2. photopigment
    3. rhodopsin
    4. cone photopigments
    5. opsin
    6. retinal
    7. bleaching and regeneration of photopigment
    8. light adaptation
    9. dark adaptation
    10. release of neurotransmitter by photoreceptor
    11. colour blindness
    12. night blindness or nyctalopia
    13. visual pathway
    14. processing of visual input in the retina
  6. Describe the retinal processing of visual input and the neural pathway of nerve impulses from the retina to the brain.
    1. brain pathway and visual fields
    2. optic chiasm
    3. optic tract
    4. optic radiations
    5. visual field
    6. binocular visual field
    7. nasal and temporal half
  7. Describe the anatomical features of the ear.
    1. hearing and equilibrium
      1. anatomy of the ear
      2. external ear or outer ear
        1. auricle or pinna
        2. external auditory canal
        3. ceruminous glands
        4. cerumen
        5. eardrum or tympanic membrane
      3. middle ear
        1. auditory ossicles
        2. malleus
        3. incus
        4. stapes
        5. oval window
        6. round window
        7. auditory tube or eustachian tube
        8. stapedius muscle
          1. hyperacusia
      4. internal ear or inner ear or labyrinth
        1. bony labyrinth
        2. perilymph
        3. membranous labyrinth
        4. endolymph
        5. vestibule
        6. utricle
        7. saccule
        8. semicircular canals
        9. ampulla
        10. semicircular ducts
        11. cochlea
        12. cochlear duct or scala media
        13. scala vestibuli
        14. scala tympani
        15. helicotrema
        16. vestibular membrane
        17. basilar membrane
        18. spiral organ or organ of Corti
        19. hair cells
        20. stereocilia
        21. tectorial membrane
  8. List the principal events in the physiology of hearing.
    1. nature of sound waves
    2. frequency and pitch
    3. intensity
    4. decibels (dB)
    5. loud sounds and hair cell damage
    6. physiology of hearing
    7. auditory pathway
  9. Identify the receptor organs for equilibrium, and describe how they function.
    1. physiology of equilibrium
    2. static equilibrium
    3. dynamic equilibrium
    4. vestibular apparatus
    5. otolithic organs
    6. saccule and utricle
    7. macula
    8. hair cells
    9. supporting cells
    10. otolithic membrane
    11. otoliths
    12. semicircular ducts
    13. ampulla
    14. crista
    15. cupula
  10. Describe the auditory and equilibrium pathways.
    1. the auditory pathway
    2. equilibrium pathways
    3. disorders
      1. cataracts
      2. glaucoma
      3. deafness
      4. motion sickness
    4. medical terminology
      1. conjunctivitis or pinkeye
      2. keratitis
      3. tinnitus
      4. vertigo

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