sensory system
Body's detection network
A sensory system is the biological apparatus an organism uses to detect and process stimuli from its environment or body.
Humans have multiple sensory systems—visual, auditory, olfactory, gustatory, tactile—each with specialized receptors that convert physical phenomena into neural signals.
The vestibular system helps maintain balance.
Sensory systems vary dramatically across species; bats use echolocation, snakes detect infrared radiation.
Proteins binding specific molecules
- neuronsSignal-transmitting brain cells
- stimuliAgents evoking responses
- mechanoreceptorsSensory cells detecting pressure
- chemoreceptorsCells detecting molecular stimuli
photoreceptors · rods · cones · nerve endings · ganglia · transduction · cochlea · retina
Of the sense detecting odors
- gustatoryOf the sense of taste
- auditoryOf or relating to hearing
- visualOf or concerning sight
- tactileOf the touching sense
proprioception · vestibular · somatosensory · equilibrioception · chemosensation · hearing · sight · smell
Conveying toward central point
- synapseNerve signal crossing point
- neurotransmittersChemical neural messengers
- axonNeuron's signal-sending projection
- dendriteNeuron's input branch
cortex · brainstem · somatosensory · thalamus · cranial nerves · spinal cord · cerebellum · parietal lobe
Assigned meaning
- recognitionPerceiving something as known
- acuitySharpness of mind or sight
- thresholdPoint of beginning
- discriminationUnjust differential treatment
adaptation · habituation · awareness · attention · cross-modal · synesthesia · perceptual constancy
What prompts a reaction
- responseAnswer to stimulus
- signalMessage-conveying cue
- transductionSignal or energy transformation
- integrationCombining into a whole
modulation · feedback · input · encoding · detection · amplification · transmission · relay
receptors
Proteins binding specific molecules
- neuronsSignal-transmitting brain cells
- stimuliAgents evoking responses
- mechanoreceptorsSensory cells detecting pressure
chemoreceptors · photoreceptors · rods · cones · nerve endings · ganglia · transduction · cochlea · retina · taste buds
olfactory
Of the sense detecting odors
tactile · proprioception · vestibular · somatosensory · equilibrioception · chemosensation · hearing · sight · smell · taste
afferent
Conveying toward central point
- synapseNerve signal crossing point
- neurotransmittersChemical neural messengers
- axonNeuron's signal-sending projection
dendrite · cortex · brainstem · somatosensory · thalamus · cranial nerves · spinal cord · cerebellum · parietal lobe · temporal lobe
interpretation
Assigned meaning
- recognitionPerceiving something as known
- acuitySharpness of mind or sight
- thresholdPoint of beginning
discrimination · adaptation · habituation · awareness · attention · cross-modal · synesthesia · perceptual constancy
stimulus
What prompts a reaction
- responseAnswer to stimulus
- signalMessage-conveying cue
- transductionSignal or energy transformation
integration · modulation · feedback · input · encoding · detection · amplification · transmission · relay · filtering
- body systems
sensory systemmotor function
Muscle movement capability
motor neurons · muscular system · motor cortex · executive function · voluntary movement
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