Discussion Questions: General and Special Senses

After a leg amputation, the patient often complains of severe itching and dull pain in the now missing limb. what physiological phenomenon is creating this sensation of pain?

phantom limb sensation

List the anatomical structures used during static equilibrium.

semicircular canals, utricle and saccule and the octonia

a person has 20/60 vision in each eye. explain the meaning of these numbers with regards to normal vision?

someone with 20/60 vision must stand 60 feet away in order to see the same thing that people with normal vision see from 20 feet away.

Describe the process of accommodation in the eye, include the position of ciliary muscle, suspensory ligament tension and lens shape changes.

the lens is supported by a ring of suspensory ligament fiber, connected to the ciliary muscle that contracts to see closer and relaxes to see further.

according to the two point discrimination test, which areas tested had the densest touch receptor distribution? the least? correlate these findings with the amount of brain area allocated to that body.

the most sensitive area was the tip of the finger as it had a greater area for sense receptors than the back of the hand, which was the least sensitive.

What parameters does the brain use to localize sound?

tiny hair fibers in the inner ear detect motion of the membrane, which vibrates in response to changes in air pressure.

Which of the following are slow adapting, fast adapting or non-adapting receptors? a. pain b. cold c. hot d. touch

a. non-adapting b. fast adapting c. slow adapting d. slow adapting

to perceive two points as separate entities, how many neurons must fire, minimum?

at least two different afferent neurons must be firing.

What causes glaucoma?

increased intraocular pressure

What causes cataracts?

clouding of the lens

What causes presbyopia?

hardening of lens, decreased effectiveness of ciliary body