Chapter 28, Problem 1BYB

Summary Introduction

To explain:

The way, in which the senses provide information to the brain.

Introduction:

The sensory nervous system is a constituent of the nervous system accountable for handling the information provided by the senses. A sensory framework comprises of sensory neurons (incorporating the sensory receptor cells), parts of the brain taking part in sensory perception, and neural pathways. The usually acknowledged sensory systems are those for hearing, vision, smell, touch, smell, and balance. It can also be stated that the senses are transducers from the physical world to the dominion of the mind where one deduce the information, producing the awareness of the world around him or her.

Explanation of Solution

The sensory information is provided and maintained with the help of a composite set of sensorimotor control frameworks, which involve sensory input from the proprioception (touch), from vision (sight), and the vestibular system (spatial orientation, motion, equilibrium), integration of the sensory input, and the motor output. The information is provided to the brain from three prime sources, that is, the muscles and joints, eyes, and vestibular organs. All three of these sources of information transmit signals to the brain in the form of nerve impulses from the unique nerve endings known as the sensory receptors.

The sensory receptors in the retina are known as cones and rods, proprioceptive information is provided from the muscles, skins, and joints, and the sensory information regarding the equilibrium, motion, and spatial orientation is delivered by the vestibular apparatus, this includes saccule, utricle, and three semicircular canals in each ear. The information from these sources is sent to the brain stem, where it is integrated and sorted out with the learned information contributed by the cerebral cortex (thinking and memory center) and the cerebellum (the coordination center of the brain).

Conclusion

The nervous system must obtain and process information about the surrounding in order to communicate, react, and maintain the body in the safe and healthy state. The majority of the information comes from the sensory organs and the vestibular system. The specialized tissues and cells within the body receive the raw information and convert them into the signals, which can be used by the nervous system. The nerves transmit the signals to the brain, which is further transformed into useful information.