Chapter 10, Problem 23RQ

(a)

Summary Introduction

To determine: The similarities and dissimilarities between the special senses and somatic senses.

Introduction: The stimuli can either reach or not reach a level of conscious awareness . The stimulus that does not reach conscious awareness involves muscle stretch changes, tension, and several internal parameters monitored by the body to regulate homeostasis, such as blood pressure and pH. The sensory stimuli whose processing reaches the conscious level of perception are associated either with special senses and somatic senses.

(b)

Summary Introduction

To determine: The similarities and dissimilarities between various touch receptors with respect to structure, size, and location.

Introduction: Touch receptors are known as the most common receptors in the body. These receptors respond to many forms of physical contact, such as stretch, steady pressure, or vibration. The different types of touch receptors are free nerve endings, Meissner’s corpuscles, Pacinian corpuscles, Ruffini corpuscles, and Merkel receptors.

(c)

Summary Introduction

To determine: The similarities and dissimilarities between the transmission of sharp localized pain and dull or diffused pain.

Introduction: Pain is a subjective perception. It is the brain’s interpretation of sensory information that is transmitted along pathways beginning at nociceptors. Pain is multidimensional, and it varies with the emotional state of a person.

(d)

Summary Introduction

To determine: The similarities and dissimilarities between the forms of hearing loss.

Introduction: Hearing is considered as the most important social sense. The loss of hearing is commonly seen in younger people because of the prolonged exposure to rock music and environmental noise. Ninety percent of hearing loss in the elderly is sensorineural, and this condition is known as presbycusis. The three usual forms of hearing loss include conductive, central, and sensorineural.

(e)

Summary Introduction

To determine: The similarities and dissimilarities between the convergence of retinal neurons and primary somatic sensory neurons.

Introduction: The convergence allows multiple simultaneous subthreshold stimuli to sum at the postsynaptic (secondary) neuron. The event of convergence can occur with the neurons of the retina and primary somatic sensory neurons.