Anatomy Test 3: Chapter 18 - Powerpoint 2

Receptor: is a specialized cell or process that monitors conditions in the body or in the external environment

Sensation: sensory information arriving at CNS

Receptors distributed throughout the body
- temperature
- pain
- touch
- pressure
- vibration
- proprioception

- located in specialized sense of organs
- olfaction
- gustation (taste)
- equilibrium/balance
- hearing
- vision
- sensory receptor: specialized cell that sends sensation to CNS

- Each receptor monitors a specific area known as the receptive field.
- Receptive field: area monitored by a single receptor cell

1. exteroreceptors
2. proprioreceptors
3. interoreceptors

Tell the CNS about external environment

Tell the CNS about body position (muscles and joints)

Tell the CNS about internal environment (monitor condition inside body)

1. Nociceptors
2. Thermoreceptors
3. Mechanoreceptors
4. Chemoreceptors

- pain
- respond to stimuli associated with tissue damage
- types of nociceptors:
- sensitive to extremes of temperature
- sensitive to mechanical damage
- sensitive to dissolved chemicals
- two types of pain sensation:
- fast (prickling) pain
- slow (burning/aching) pain
- free nerve endings

- respond to changes in temperature
- conduct sensations along same pathway as nociceptors
- free nerve endings

Respond to physical distortion, contact, or pressure
- tactile receptor: touch, pressure, vibration
- baroreceptors: pressure changing in walls of vessels, tracts
- proprioceptors: position of joints and muscles

- monitor chemical composition in body
- important in cardiovascular and respiratory functions

- Each receptor responds to different stimulus
- Receptors are in dermis