how would you describe the role of the special senses in the nervous system course hero

What is the function of the nervous system and special senses?

Oct 02, 2017 · The functions of the five special senses include: Vision. Sight or vision is the capability of the eye (s) to focus and detect images of visible light on photoreceptors in the retina of each eye that generates electrical nerve impulses for varying colors, hues, and brightness. Hearing. Hearing or audition is the sense of sound perception. Taste.

What are the functions of the five special senses?

Unit 4 Report 1) List the special senses and describe their roles in the nervous system. There are five senses in the nervous system and those are sight with the eyes, sound with the ears and eardrums, taste with the mouth and tongue, touch with hands and skin, and smell with the nose. Sight consists of the eyes and is used to translate light into image signals for the brain.

What is the function of sensory receptors in the brain?

Jul 18, 2016 · • External stimuli, e.g. sight and sound, are perceived by specialised receptor cells located within the special sense organs. • Information from the receptor cells is transmitted by nerve impulses to the brain by cranial nerves. It is interpreted within specific centres in the brain and a response is initiated.

How many senses are there in human body?

Mar 15, 2020 · They have five special senses, which help them to differentiate between hearing, vision, taste, touch, and smell. These senses convey the various sensations to the brain via cranial nerves. They help to protect the body from damage, for example, it can feel the cold and warm conditions and it can help in recognizing the needle prick.

What is the function of the nervous system in animals?

The functions of the nervous system are: • To receive stimuli from the external and internal environment. • To analyse and integrate these stimuli.

What is the nervous system?

Although the nervous system works as a well-integrated composite unit within the body, for descriptive purposes, it can be divided into: • Central nervous system (CNS) – the brain and spinal cord. • Peripheral nervous system – this consists of all the nerves given off from the CNS: Cranial nerves – leaving the brain.

What is the midbrain?

Midbrain. This is a short length of brain lying between the forebrain and the hindbrain. It is overhung by the cerebral hemispheres and is not easy to see in the gross specimen. It acts as a pathway for fibres running from the hindbrain to the forebrain carrying the senses of hearing and sight.

Why is the brain important?

Normal brain function is essential for the maintenance of an animal’s life. If it is damaged mechanically or chemically, function will be impaired and the animal may die. Several structures have evolved within the brain to protect it from harm.

How do neurons connect to each other?

Neurons connect with each other by synapses to create a complex network that conveys electrical impulses all around the body. The function of this system is to take in information from the external and internal environments and to initiate an appropriate response.

Which nerves leave the brain?

Cranial nerves – leaving the brain. Spinal nerves – leaving the spinal cord. Autonomic nervous system – this comprises nerves which supply the viscera and it can be further divided into: sympathetic nervous system. parasympathetic nervous system.

Where do nerve impulses travel?

These carry nerve impulses away from the cell body. The axon leaves the cell at a point known as the axon hillock. Nerve impulses from the dendrons are directed across the cell body towards the axon hillock and continue down the axon, reaching their final destination very rapidly. The speed of transmission along the axon is increased by ...

What is the role of sensory receptors in the nervous system?

A major role of sensory receptors is to help us learn about the environment around us, or about the state of our internal environment. Different types of stimuli from varying sources are received and changed into the electrochemical signals of the nervous system. This process is called sensory transduction.

What is the special sense?

A special sense (discussed in Chapter 15) is one that has a specific organ devoted to it, namely the eye, inner ear, tongue, or nose. Each of the senses is referred to as a sensory modality. Modality refers to the way that information is encoded into a perception.

What is the difference between perception and sensation?

Perception is the central processing of sensory stimuli into a meaningful pattern involving awareness. Perception is dependent on sensation , but not all sensation s are perceived. Receptors are the structures (and sometimes whole cells) that detect sensations.

What are the sensory receptors?

Sensory Receptors. Stimuli in the environment activate specialized receptors or receptor cells in the peripheral nervous system. Different types of stimuli are sensed by different types of receptors. Receptor cells can be classified into types on the basis of three different criteria: cell type, position, and function.

What is the sensory modality of touch?

An individual sensory modality represents the sensation of a specific type of stimulus. For example, the general sense of touch, which is known as somatosensation, can be separated into light pressure, deep pressure, vibration, itch, pain, temperature, or hair movement.

What is somatosensation in the body?

Somatosensation is the group of sensory modalities that are associated with touch and limb position. These modalities include pressure, vibration, light touch, tickle, itch, temperature, pain, proprioception, and kinesthesia. This means that its receptors are not associated with a specialized organ, but are instead spread throughout the body in a variety of organs. Many of the somatosensory receptors are located in the skin, but receptors are also found in muscles, tendons, joint capsules and ligaments.

What is the function of transmembrane receptors?

A transmembrane protein receptor is a protein in the cell membrane that mediates a physiological change in a neuron, most often through the opening of ion channels or changes in the cell signaling processes. Some transmembrane receptors are activated by chemicals called ligands.