NeuroscienceLesson 2 of 4 in the course The Nervous System and Nervous Tissue

Sensory Signaling, Motor Pathways, and Neurophysiology Careers

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 5 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

Nervous tissue communicates by converting stimuli into electrical signals and passing information between cells. This lesson follows the path of a temperature stimulus from the skin toward conscious perception in the brain.

When a hand enters shower water, thermoreceptors in the skin detect its temperature. A stimulus changes the electrical state, or voltage, of the receptor cell membrane. This local change is a graded potential: its size varies with the strength of the stimulus. For example, a larger temperature difference can produce a larger change in membrane voltage.

All flashcards

What is a thermoreceptor?
A sensory receptor that responds to temperature, such as receptors in the skin.
What is a graded potential?
A local change in a cell's membrane voltage whose size depends on stimulus strength.
What is threshold?
The membrane voltage level that must be reached to trigger an action potential.
How does a neurotransmitter transmit a signal across a synapse?
It is released from synaptic end bulbs, diffuses across the synaptic gap, and binds to receptors on the target cell.
What roles do the thalamus and cerebral cortex play in temperature perception?
The thalamus relays sensory information, and the cerebral cortex processes it so conscious perception can begin.

Quiz questions

  1. What type of receptor detects temperature in the skin?Answer: A thermoreceptor.
  2. How does a graded potential differ from an action potential?Answer: A graded potential varies in size with stimulus strength; an action potential travels along an axon after threshold is reached.
  3. How does a chemical signal cross the synaptic gap between neurons?Answer: The presynaptic neuron releases neurotransmitter, which binds to receptors on the target cell.
  4. What information can the cerebral cortex combine when planning a response?Answer: Sensory input, emotional state, and memories.
  5. Which sequence describes the motor pathway from the brain toward a muscle?Answer: An upper motor neuron signals a lower motor neuron, which sends a signal to muscle.

Based on Anatomy and Physiology 2e by J. Gordon Betts, Kelly A. Young, James A. Wise, Eddie Johnson, Brandon Poe, Dean H. Kruse, Oksana Korol, Jody E. Johnson, Mark Womble, Peter DeSaix (OpenStax), licensed CC BY 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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