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SensoryReceptorPhysiol

The document discusses the physiology of sensory receptors, categorizing them into exteroceptors, proprioceptors, and interoceptors, each with specific functions and types. It explains the mechanisms of stimulus transduction, adaptation, and the principles governing the perception of stimulus intensity. Additionally, it covers nerve fiber classification and the relationship between receptor potential and action potential frequency.

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6 views29 pages

SensoryReceptorPhysiol

The document discusses the physiology of sensory receptors, categorizing them into exteroceptors, proprioceptors, and interoceptors, each with specific functions and types. It explains the mechanisms of stimulus transduction, adaptation, and the principles governing the perception of stimulus intensity. Additionally, it covers nerve fiber classification and the relationship between receptor potential and action potential frequency.

Uploaded by

wcvet3579
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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SENSORY RECEPTOR

PHYSIOLOGY

1
Student Preparation

Textbook of Medical Physiology,


10th Edition, Guyton & Hall,
Chapter 46

2
Classes of receptors
• Exteroceptors

• Proprioceptors

• Interoceptors

3
Exteroceptors
• Detect stimuli near the outer surface of
the body and include those from the
skin that respond to cold, warmth,
touch, pressure and vibration. May also
include special receptors for hearing
and vision.

4
Exteroceptors
• Mechanoreceptors – mechanosensitive
ion channels
• Thermoreceptors
• Nociceptors
• Teloceptors - receptors of
electromagnetic radiation
• Chemoceptors (taste and smell)
5
Receptor types

6
Mechanoreceptors
• Pacinian corpuscle – vibration
• Meissner’s corpuscle – touch
• Hair-follicle receptor – touch
• Merkel’s disk – pressure
• Tactile disk – pressure
• Ruffini’s corpuscle – pressure

(see Table 1 in handout)


7
Nerve Fiber Classification
• General classification scheme (Erlanger-Gasser):
– A fibers: Myelinated
• Subtypes: some overlap in ranges
• Fastest conducting and largest diameter – m/sec,

• “A” often dropped: A = alpha motor neuron
– B fibers: Slower myelinated (seldom used)
– C fibers: Unmyelinated
• Slower conducting than As and smallest diameter (0.5 m/sec,
0.5 )
Nerve Fiber Classification
• Sensory nerve classification (Lloyd-
Hunt):
– I, II, III fibers: Myelinated
• Subtypes: Ia, Ib
• Fastest conducting and largest diameter – Ia
– IV fibers: Unmyelinated
• Slower conducting than IIIs and smallest
diameter
Nerve Fiber

Classification

Erlanger-Gasser:

Lloyd-Hunt:
11
Receptive field
sizes vary by type:
Meissner’s corpuscles - small

Pacinian corpuscles - large

12
Proprioceptors
• Located in skeletal muscles, tendons,
ligaments and joint capsules. Sensitive
to muscle stretch, muscle tone, position
and angle of joints. Provide a sense of
body position – “self” receptors.

13
Proprioceptors
• Muscle spindle
• Golgi tendon organ
• Joint receptor
• Vestibular hair cell

14
Interoceptors
• Detect stimuli from inside the body and
include receptors that respond to pH,
oxygen level in arterial blood, carbon
dioxide concentration, osmolality of
body fluids, distention and spasm (e.g.,
gut), and flow (e.g., urethra)

15
Stimulus transduction
• Differential sensitivity of receptors - each
receptor is highly receptive to one type of
stimulus and appraises the NS of one
kind of modality of sensation – adequate
stimulus.
– Primary receptors - e.g., bare nerve ending
for pain
– Secondary receptors - e.g., taste receptor –
also involve non-neural tissues

16
Adequate stimulus

17
Transduction of Sensory
Signal to Nerve Impulses
• Regardless of the type of stimulus, the effect on
all receptors is the same: a change in the
electrical potential of the receptor: the receptor
potential.
• Heat, cold, electromagnetic radiation, mechanical
deformation, O2 content of the blood – all produce
a change in electrical potential in the appropriate
receptor type.
• Depolarization - except in the retina (rods and
cones).
18
Action potential initiation
• Receptor potential
(depolarizing,
hyperpolarizing)
• Generator potential
• Threshold
• Action potential

19
Receptor potential amplitude and
action potential frequency are
proportional to stimulus intensity

Threshold

20
Spatial summation of
receptor/generator potentials

Two simultaneous stimuli

21
Temporal summation of
receptor/generator potentials

Two stimuli in rapid

succession

S1 S1 S1 + S 1
22
Modification of sensation
Adaptation -
property of the
receptor where an
initial high rate of
response (action
potentials) is followed
by a lower response
rate with a continued
stimulus. E.g.
Pacinian corpuscle.
Pain fibers show little if any adaptation! 23
Adaptation – static vs. dynamic
responses

(dynamic)

(static)

24
Modification of sensation
• Accommodation – reduction in response similar
to adaptation, possibly due to inactivation of
sodium channels at the axon initial segment.

• Centrifugal control of sensory receptors –


increased or decreased sensitivity from central
inputs to sensory cells - e.g., cochlear hair
cells, olfactory system

• Tonic vs. phasic receptors


– Tonic (adapts slowly)
– Phasic (adapts rapidly)
25
Judgement of stimulus
intensity (humans)
• As the sensory intensity increases, there is
decrease in ability to discriminate small
changes.
• Weber-Fechner Principle - gradations of
stimulus strength are discriminated in
proportion to the logarithm of stimulus
strength. E.g., hold 30 g weight, detect 1 g
increase. Hold 300 g weight, detect 30 g
increase.
26
Weber-Fechner Principle
Logarithmic relationship
between perceived
stimulus strength and
actual strength.

Perceived stimulus =
log (stimulus) + K

27
Power Law

Exponential
relationship
between perceived
stimulus strength
and actual
strength.

Perceived stimulus
=
K(stimulus-S0)n

28
Questions (T/F)
• The receptor potential is an all-or-nothing
response of the receptor cell that occurs only
for stimuli above a stimulus threshold.
• The receptor potential is a depolarization of
the receptive membrane whose amplitude
increases as the stimulus intensity increases.
• The receptor potential spreads
electrotonically to the axon membrane and
acts there as a generator potential for
propagated action potentials.
29

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