Exam 7: Sensors II: Sensing on Contact

Neurons are one particular cell type, but-as you can see in this chapter and others-neurons display remarkable diversity in their structure and function. Give 3 examples from this chapter of how gene expression differences lead to different types of neurons.

What is the primary function of the vestibular system?

Match the structures to the function of the parts of the vestibular system using the following words/phrases: -_______________________ semicircular canals

Analyze figure 7.1,In the text Which of the following is NOT true regarding the anatomy of mechanosensation?

Create a sketch that shows the anatomical differences between mechanosensory fibers and nociceptive fibers as they enter the spinal cord and synapse with neurons that project rostrally.

Which of the following is NOT true regarding neurons in the dorsal root ganglia?

What are two ways of classifying sensory systems as described in opening paragraphs of chapters 6 and 7? Propose another method that you might use to classify sensory systems and state how the senses presented in chapters 6 and 7 would be incorporated.

You are a scientist studying mechanosensation, and are performing electrical recordings on a single mechanosensory axon that innervates a finger. You find that when slight pressure is applied to the finger, the axon responds with multiple action potentials that do not decrease in frequency over time. You have likely found an axon associated with which cell type/structure?

You feel a cool breeze on your skin. Though a variety of mechanisms are involved in this sensation, it is probably most due to the function of ___________________ in peripheral sensory neurons.

Occasionally otoconia in the vestibular organs fall out of the dense gelatinous matrix that holds them and make contact directly with hair cells. Predict what symptoms you might expect? Look up the disorder Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo and state whether your prediction was accurate.

Analyze Figure b7.4.In the text What can you conclude from these data?

Predict how an individual's ability to detect painful stimuli might change if they have a disease that impairs the function of myelinated peripheral sensory neurons.

You are a scientist studying the impact of a disease that destroys myelin in peripheral nerves. What might be a symptom of such a disease?

We often think of pain as a bad thing - and it certainly is in terms of its emotional quality. Why then do you think humans and other animals have evolved the ability to perceive pain? In what sense is pain a good thing?

Analyze Figure 7.18.In the text What can you conclude from these data?

Match the tastant with its role in gustation. -________ helps to detect that a food contains protein

You apply a colored axonal tracer to dorsal root ganglion neurons that are associated with Merkel cells. You would expect that you might find color in which areas within the spinal cord?

Analyze Figure 7.19.In the text Which of the following can be concluded from these data?

Which of the following is true of Merkel cells?

Analyze Figure 7.12, In the text What would be reasonable conclusions you could draw from these data?