Sensory Receptors Essay

1285 Words3 Pages

Definition
A sensory receptor is a structure that reacts to a physical stimulus in the environment, whether internal or external. It is a sensory nerve ending that receives information and conducts a process of generating nerve impulses to be transmitted to the brain for interpretation and perception. Sensory receptors vary in classifications but generally initiate the same process of registering stimuli and creating nerve signals.
Classifications
Stimulus modality is defined as an aspect of a stimulus that could be light, sound, taste, temperature, smell, pressure, etc. Because there are different stimulus modalities, sensory receptors also vary in terms of adequate stimulus, morphology, and location.
By Adequate Stimulus
Adequate stimulus refers to the property of a sensory receptor that describes the type of energy to which the sensory receptor reacts to. In short, adequate …show more content…

Ganglion Cells reside in the adrenal medulla and retina where they are involved in the sympathetic response. These photosensitive ganglia play a role in conscious vision for some animals and are believed to do the same in humans.
Nociceptors
Nociceptors respond to potentially damaging stimuli by sending signals to the spinal cord and brain. This process, called nociception, usually causes the perception of pain. They are found in internal organs as well as on the surface of the body. Nociceptors detect different kinds of damaging stimuli or actual damage. Those that only respond when tissues are damaged are known as "sleeping" or "silent" nociceptors.
Thermal nociceptors are activated by noxious heat or cold at various temperatures.

Mechanical nociceptors respond to excess pressure or mechanical deformation.
Chemical nociceptors respond to a wide variety of chemicals, some of which are signs of tissue damage. They are involved in the detection of some spices in

Open Document