Textbook Question
Identify and shade in the locations of all the ascending sensory tracts in the following diagram of the spinal cord.
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Ch. 15 Sensory Pathways and the Somatic Nervous System
Martini, Nath, Bartholomew11th EditionFundamentals of Anatomy & PhysiologyISBN: 9780136874089
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Table of contents
- Ch. 1 An Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology26
- Ch. 2 The Chemical Level of Organization34
- Ch. 3 The Cellular Level of Organization30
- Ch. 4 The Tissue Level of Organization24
- Ch. 5 The Integumentary System17
- Ch. 6 Bones and Bone Structure36
- Ch. 7 The Axial Skeleton11
- Ch. 8 The Appendicular Skeleton17
- Ch. 9 Joints13
- Ch. 10 Muscle Tissue12
- Ch. 11 The Muscular System28
- Ch. 12 Nervous Tissue18
- Ch. 13 The Spinal Cord, Spinal Nerves, and Spinal Reflexes22
- Ch. 14 The Brain and Cranial Nerves20
- Ch. 15 Sensory Pathways and the Somatic Nervous System17
- Ch. 16 The Autonomic Nervous System and Higher-Order Functions30
- Ch. 17 The Special Senses16
- Ch. 18 The Endocrine System20
- Ch. 19 Blood31
- Ch. 20 The Heart31
- Ch. 21 Blood Vessels and Circulation29
- Ch. 22 The Lymphatic System and Immunity31
- Ch. 23 The Respiratory System12
- Ch. 24 The Digestive System18
- Ch. 26 The Urinary System31
- Ch. 27 Fluids & Electrolytes32
- Ch. 28 The Reproductive System12
- Ch. 29 Development and Inheritance23
Martini, Nath, Bartholomew11th EditionFundamentals of Anatomy & PhysiologyISBN: 9780136874089Not the one you use?Change textbook
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Martini, Nath, Bartholomew 11th EditionCh. 15 Sensory Pathways and the Somatic Nervous SystemProblem 7
Martini, Nath, Bartholomew 11th EditionCh. 15 Sensory Pathways and the Somatic Nervous SystemProblem 7Chapter 15, Problem 7
What three types of mechanoreceptors respond to stretching, compression, twisting, or other distortions of their plasma membrane?
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand that mechanoreceptors are sensory receptors that respond to mechanical forces such as stretching, compression, and twisting by detecting changes in the plasma membrane.
Recall that the three main types of mechanoreceptors involved in detecting such mechanical distortions are: Merkel discs, Meissner's corpuscles, and Pacinian corpuscles.
Merkel discs respond primarily to light touch and pressure, detecting sustained mechanical stimuli through deformation of their plasma membrane.
Meissner's corpuscles are sensitive to light touch and low-frequency vibration, responding to changes in texture and slow vibrations by membrane distortion.
Pacinian corpuscles detect deep pressure and high-frequency vibration, responding to rapid changes in mechanical forces by deformation of their layered capsule and plasma membrane.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Mechanoreceptors
Mechanoreceptors are specialized sensory receptors that detect mechanical changes such as pressure, stretch, or vibration. They convert physical stimuli into electrical signals, allowing the nervous system to perceive touch, proprioception, and other mechanical sensations.
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Adaptation
Types of Mechanoreceptors Responding to Membrane Distortion
The three main types of mechanoreceptors that respond to stretching, compression, or twisting are Merkel cells, Meissner's corpuscles, and Pacinian corpuscles. Each type is sensitive to different mechanical forces and plays a role in detecting various tactile stimuli.
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Mechanotransduction
Mechanotransduction is the process by which mechanoreceptors convert mechanical deformation of their plasma membrane into electrical signals. This involves ion channels that open or close in response to membrane stretch or pressure, initiating nerve impulses.
Related Practice
Textbook Question
What are the three major somatic sensory pathways and their functions?
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Textbook Question
Identify six types of tactile receptors located in the skin, and describe their sensitivities.
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Textbook Question
Which three pairs of descending tracts make up the corticospinal pathway?
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Textbook Question
The CNS interprets information entirely on the basis of the
(a) Number of action potentials that it receives
(b) Kind of action potentials that it receives
(c) Line over which sensory information arrives
(d) Intensity of the sensory stimulus
(e) Number of sensory receptors that are stimulated
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Textbook Question
Which three motor tracts make up the medial pathway?
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