Chapter 10a

Sensory Physiology
About this Chapter

• General properties of sensory systems

• Somatic senses
• Chemoreception: smell and taste
• The ear: hearing
• The ear: equilibrium
• The eye and vision
General Properties: Sensory Division

Table 10-1 (1 of 2)
General Properties: Sensory Division

Table 10-1 (2 of 2)
Sensory Pathways

• Stimulus as physical energy  sensory

receptor
• Receptor acts as a transducer
• Intracellular signal  usually change in
membrane potential
• Stimulus  threshold  action potential to
CNS
• Integration in CNS  cerebral cortex or acted
on subconsciously
Somatosensory Receptors
Stimulus

Free nerve endings

Unmyelinated
axon

Cell body

(a)
Figure 10-1a
Somatosensory Receptors
Stimulus

Enclosed nerve
ending
Layers of connective
tissue

Myelinated axon

Cell body

(b)
Figure 10-1b
Somatosensory Receptors
Stimulus

Specialized receptor
cell (hair cell)
Synaptic vesicles
Synapse

Myelinated axon

Cell body of
sensory neuron

(c)
Figure 10-1c
Sensory Receptors

Table 10-2
Sensory Transduction

• Stimulus energy converted into information

processed by CNS
• Ion channels or second messengers initiate
membrane potential change
• Adequate stimulus: Preferred form of
stimulus
• Threshold: Minimum stimulus
• Receptor potential: Change in sensory
receptor membrane potential
Receptive Fields of Sensory Neurons

Primary sensory The primary sensory neurons Information from the

neurons converge on one secondary secondary receptive
sensory neuron. field goes to the brain.

Secondary
sensory
neuron

The receptive fields of three primary sensory neurons

overlap to form one large secondary receptive field.
SECTION THROUGH SPINAL CORD

Figure 10-2
Sensory Neurons: Two-Point Discrimination

(a)
• Two-point Compass with points
separated by 20 mm
discrimination
varies with the
size of the Skin surface

secondary
receptive field Primary
sensory
neurons

Secondary
sensory
neurons

One signal goes to the brain.

Figure 10-3a
Sensory Neurons: Two-Point Discrimination

• Two-point Compass with points

(b)

discrimination separated by 20 mm

varies with the

size of the Skin surface

secondary
Primary
receptive field sensory
neurons

Secondary
sensory
neurons

Two signals go to the brain.

Figure 10-3b
Integration by CNS

• Sensory information
• Spinal cord to brain by ascending pathways
• Directly to brain stem via cranial nerves
• Visceral reflexes integrated in brain stem or
spinal cord usually do not reach conscious
perception
• Perceptual threshold: level of stimulus
necessary to be aware of particular sensation
Sensory Pathways

• Each major division of the brain processes

one or more types of sensory information
Sensory Pathways
Primary somatic
Gustatory cortex
sensory cortex

Olfactory cortex

Olfactory bulb Auditory

cortex
Visual
cortex
1 Olfactory pathways from
the nose project through
the olfactory bulb to the
olfactory cortex. Eye

2 Cerebellum
2 Most sensory pathways project
Nose 1 Thalamus
to the thalamus. The thalamus Sound
modifies and relays information
to cortical centers. Brain
stem
Equilibrium
3 3
Equilibrium pathways project
primarily to the cerebellum.
Tongue

Somatic
senses

Figure 10-4
Properties of Stimulus: Modality

• Indicated by where
• Sensory neurons are activated
• Neurons terminate in brain
• Specific to receptor type
• Labeled line coding
• 1:1 association of receptor with sensation
Properties of Stimulus: Location

• According to which receptive fields are

activated
• Auditory information is an exception
• Sensitive to different frequencies
• Lateral inhibition
• Increases contrast between activated receptive
fields and inactive neighbors
• Population coding
• Multiple receptors functioning together
Properties of Stimulus: Location

• The brain uses timing differences rather than

neurons to localize sound

Figure 10-5
Properties of Stimulus: Location

• Lateral inhibition enhances contrast and

makes a stimulus easier to perceive
Stimulus Stimulus

Frequency of action potentials

Pin

Skin

A B C

Tonic level
Primary neuron
response is proportional
to stimulus strength.
Primary
sensory
neurons

Pathway closest to
Secondary the stimulus inhibits
neurons

Frequency of action potentials

neighbors.

A B C

Inhibition of lateral Tonic level

Tertiary
neurons enhances
neurons
perception of stimulus.

A B C

Figure 10-6
Properties of Stimulus

• Intensity
• Coded by number of receptors activated and
frequency of action potentials
• Duration
• Coded by duration of action potentials
• Some receptors can adapt or cease to respond
• Tonic receptors versus phasic receptors
Properties of Stimulus

• Sensory neurons use action potential

frequency and duration to code stimulus
intensity and duration
Transduction site Trigger zone Myelinated axon Cell body Axon terminal

Stimulus
Membrane potential (mV)

Amplitude 20
0
-20
-40 Threshold
Duration -60
-80
(a) Moderate 0 5 10 0 5 10 0 5 10
stimulus
Time (sec)
Membrane potential (mV)

20
0
-20
-40
-60
-80
(b) Longer and 0 5 10 0 5 10 0 5 10
stronger
stimulus Receptor potential Receptor potential Frequency of action Neurotransmitter
1 strength and 2 is integrated at the 3 potentials is proportional 4 release varies with
duration vary with trigger zone. to stimulus intensity. the pattern of action
the stimulus. Duration of a series of potentials arriving
action potentials is at the axon terminal.
proportional to stimulus
duration.

Figure 10-7
Tonic and Phasic Receptors

Figure 10-8a
Tonic and Phasic Receptors

Figure 10-8b
Somatic Senses: Modalities

• Touch
• Proprioception
• Temperature
• Nociception
• Pain
• Itch
Somatic Senses Pathways
4 4 Sensations are perceived
in the primary somatic
sensory cortex.

3 3 Sensory pathways
synapse in the thalamus.
THALAMUS

MEDULLA

2 2 Fine touch, vibration,

and proprioception
pathways cross the
midline in the medulla.

Fine touch,
proprioception,
vibration
KEY
1 1 Pain, temperature, and
Nociception, coarse touch cross the Primary sensory neuron
temperature, midline in the spinal cord. Secondary sensory neuron
coarse touch
Tertiary neuron

SPINAL CORD
Figure 10-9
The Somatosensory Cortex

Figure 10-10
Touch Receptors in the Skin

Merkel receptors Meissner’s corpuscle

sense steady pressure responds to flutter and
and texture. stroking movements.
Hair
Free nerve
ending

Free nerve ending of

Free nerve ending nociceptor responds
of hair root senses to noxious stimuli.
Hair root
hair movement.
Sensory nerves
Pacinian corpuscle carry signals to
senses vibration. spinal cord.

Ruffini corpuscle
responds to skin
stretch.

Figure 10-11
Temperature Receptors

• Free nerve endings

• Terminate in subcutaneous layers
• Cold receptors
• Lower than body temperature
• Warm receptors
• Above body temperature to about 45°C
• Pain receptors activated above 45°C
Nociceptors

• Free nerve ending

• Respond to strong noxious stimulus that may
damage tissue
• Modulated by local chemicals
• Substance P is secreted by primary sensory
neurons
• Mediate inflammatory response
• Inflammatory pain
Nociceptors Pathways

• Reflexive protective response

• Integrated in spinal cord
• Withdrawal reflex
• Ascending pathway to cerebral cortex
• Becomes conscious sensation (pain or itch)
Somatosensory Nerve Fibers

Table 10-5
Nociceptors: Pain and Itch

• Itch
• Histamine activates C fibers causing itch
• Pain
• Subjective perception
• Fast pain
• Sharp and localized—by A fibers
• Slow pain
• More diffuse—by C fibers
The Gate-Control Theory of Pain

Figure 10-12a
The Gate Control Theory of Pain Modulation

Figure 10-12b
The Gate Control Theory of Pain Modulation

Figure 10-12c
Referred Pain

Skin
(usual stimulus)

Primary sensory
neurons

Kidney
(uncommon stimulus)
Secondary Ascending sensory
sensory path to somatosensory
(b) neuron cortex of brain
Figure 10-13b
Pain

• Ischemia
• Lack of adequate blood flow
• Chronic pain is a pathological pain
• Analgesic drugs
• Aspirin
• Inhibits prostaglandins and slows transmission of
pain to site of injury