Somatic Nervous System

You’re finally home from a long day of work and feel a rumbling in your stomach. The aching emptiness insists on food, so you begin the task of preparing a dinner. Upon doing such, while lighting the stove, your hand happens to graze the blue flames. In the blink of an eye your brain is screaming “OUCH! NO! IT’S HOT!” Receiving only slight burns, your body has set off its personal alarm system, keeping you out of any major danger. Amazing how the body can respond in such a productive, lightning fast way to protect you, isn’t it? Give a big thanks to your Somatic Nervous System controlling your five somatic senses; taste, sight, smell, hearing, and touch. Within this report, however, we shall focus on just one of these senses; touch. We will unlock just how it works and the parts of the body that play a key role in the game of feeling. Diseases, conditions, and circumstances of the somatic touch sense will also be examined not failing to cover the dysfunction and issues that may take place in the system.

Let’s begin with the first major component in which plays a significant role in the ability to feel and touch; none other than the skin. Being our largest organ, the skin is extremely important to one’s survival as it protects your insides from the harsh world filled with disease and bacteria, and also is responsible for our sense of touch. Within the skin’s three layers, a massive network of touch receptors and neurons is situated called the Somatosensory System. A system of which is responsible for all of the feelings we feel physically, how can it be simple? Well, it’s not. Four different typed of receptors make us this Somatosensory System. They are listed as follows: mechanoreceptors, pain receptors, proprioceptors, and ther...

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...ritis, and the list goes on. Treatment is rather simple, yet it has no promising effects. Doctors recommend the patient to ice the wrists, keep the wrist activity down, and wear splints at night to keep pressure off of the median nerve. Because Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is progressive, the future does not look so bright for those suffering with it. Depending on the severity, surgery may be the only answer. Other than that, we can expect to see much feeling loss and pain occur as the patient ages.

Simply enough, the somatic sense of touch is quite complex and interesting as it is built upon layers of microscopic systems all interworking with one another. It’s about time we stand back and appreciate our sense of touch, because it works in its special way to keep us out of danger and hurting oneself. Touch and feeling are a truly fascinating, vital sense within our five.