Before we get into the meat and potatoes let’s take a second to laugh with a corny science joke
Where are neurons jailed if they commit a crime? A nerve cell!
Ha ha, ok now let’s get into the fun world of sensory receptors…….
What is a sensory receptor?
Sensory receptors are neurons that respond to stimuli and trigger electrical signals
Types of sensory receptors
Photoreceptors: respond to electromagnetic waves in the visible spectrum (sight)
Hair cells: respond to movement of fluid in the inner ear structures (hearing, rotational and linear acceleration)
Nociceptors: respond to painful or noxious stimuli (somatosensation)
Thermoreceptors: respond to changes in temperature (thermosensation)
Osmoreceptors: respond to the osmolarity of the blood (water homeostasis)
Olfactory receptors: respond to volatile compounds (smell)
Taste receptors: respond to dissolved compounds (taste)
Here’s a fun and cool visual to help you learn the sensory receptors!
Sources/Where to head to learn more!
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/sensory-receptor
https://www.cliffsnotes.com/study-guides/anatomy-and-physiology/the-sensory-system/sensory-receptors
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK539861/
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