audition sense of hearing

basilar membrane stiff structure in the cochlea that indirectly anchors auditory receptors

bipolar neuron neuron with two processes from the cell body, typically in opposite directions

candela (cd) unit of measurement of luminous intensity (brightness)

circadian describes a time cycle about one day in length

cochlea whorled structure that contains receptors for transduction of the mechanical wave into an electrical signal

cone weakly photosensitive, chromatic, cone-shaped neuron in the fovea of the retina that detects bright light and is used in daytime color vision

cornea transparent layer over the front of the eye that helps focus light waves

fovea region in the center of the retina with a high density of photoreceptors and which is responsible for acute vision

free nerve ending ending of an afferent neuron that lacks a specialized structure for detection of sensory stimuli; some respond to touch, pain, or temperature

glabrous describes the non-hairy skin found on palms and fingers, soles of feet, and lips of humans and other primates

glomerulus in the olfactory bulb, one of the two neural clusters that receives signals from one type of olfactory receptor

Golgi tendon organ muscular proprioceptive tension receptor that provides the sensory component of the Golgi tendon reflex

gustation sense of taste

hyperopia (also, farsightedness) visual defect in which the image focus falls behind the retina, thereby making images in the distance clear, but close-up images blurry

incus (also, anvil) second of the three bones of the middle ear

inner ear innermost part of the ear; consists of the cochlea and the vestibular system

iris pigmented, circular muscle at the front of the eye that regulates the amount of light entering the eye

kinesthesia sense of body movement

labyrinth bony, hollow structure that is the most internal part of the ear; contains the sites of transduction of auditory and vestibular information

lens transparent, convex structure behind the cornea that helps focus light waves on the retina

malleus (also, hammer) first of the three bones of the middle ear

mechanoreceptor sensory receptor modified to respond to mechanical disturbance such as being bent, touch, pressure, motion, and sound

Meissner’s corpuscle (also, tactile corpuscle) encapsulated, rapidly-adapting mechanoreceptor in the skin that responds to light touch

Merkel’s disc unencapsulated, slowly-adapting mechanoreceptor in the skin that responds to touch

middle ear part of the hearing apparatus that functions to transfer energy from the tympanum to the oval window of the inner ear

muscle spindle proprioceptive stretch receptor that lies within a muscle and that shortens the muscle to an optimal length for efficient contraction

myopia (also, nearsightedness) visual defect in which the image focus falls in front of the retina, thereby making images in the distance blurry, but close-up images clear

nociception neural processing of noxious (such as damaging) stimuli

odorant airborne molecule that stimulates an olfactory receptor

olfaction sense of smell

olfactory bulb neural structure in the vertebrate brain that receives signals from olfactory receptors

olfactory epithelium specialized tissue in the nasal cavity where olfactory receptors are located

olfactory receptor dendrite of a specialized neuron

organ of Corti in the basilar membrane, the site of the transduction of sound, a mechanical wave, to a neural signal

ossicle one of the three bones of the middle ear

outer ear part of the ear that consists of the pinna, ear canal, and tympanum and which conducts sound waves into the middle ear

oval window thin diaphragm between the middle and inner ears that receives sound waves from contact with the stapes bone of the middle ear

Pacinian corpuscle encapsulated mechanoreceptor in the skin that responds to deep pressure and vibration

papilla one of the small bump-like projections from the tongue

perception individual interpretation of a sensation; a brain function

pheromone substance released by an animal that can affect the physiology or behavior of other animals

pinna cartilaginous outer ear

presbyopia visual defect in which the image focus falls behind the retina, thereby making images in the distance clear, but close-up images blurry; caused by age-based changes in the lens

proprioception sense of limb position; used to track kinesthesia

pupil small opening though which light enters

reception receipt of a signal (such as light or sound) by sensory receptors

receptive field region in space in which a stimulus can activate a given sensory receptor

receptor potential membrane potential in a sensory receptor in response to detection of a stimulus

retina layer of photoreceptive and supporting cells on the inner surface of the back of the eye

rhodopsin main photopigment in vertebrates

rod strongly photosensitive, achromatic, cylindrical neuron in the outer edges of the retina that detects dim light and is used in peripheral and nighttime vision

Ruffini ending (also, bulbous corpuscle) slowly-adapting mechanoreceptor in the skin that responds to skin stretch and joint position

semicircular canal one of three half-circular, fluid-filled tubes in the vestibular labyrinth that monitors angular acceleration and deceleration

sensory receptor specialized neuron or other cells associated with a neuron that is modified to receive specific sensory input

sensory transduction conversion of a sensory stimulus into electrical energy in the nervous system by a change in the membrane potential

stapes (also, stirrup) third of the three bones of the middle ear

stereocilia in the auditory system, hair-like projections from hair cells that help detect sound waves

superior colliculus paired structure in the top of the midbrain, which manages eye movements and auditory integration

suprachiasmatic nucleus cluster of cells in the hypothalamus that plays a role in the circadian cycle

tastant food molecule that stimulates gustatory receptors

taste bud clusters of taste cells

tectorial membrane cochlear structure that lies above the hair cells and participates in the transduction of sound at the hair cells

tonic activity in a neuron, slight continuous activity while at rest

tympanum (also, tympanic membrane or ear drum) thin diaphragm between the outer and middle ears

ultrasoundsound frequencies above the human detectable ceiling of approximately 20,000 Hz

umami one of the five basic tastes, which is described as “savory” and which may be largely the taste of L-glutamate

vestibular sense sense of spatial orientation and balance

vision sense of sight