Sensory system
Sensory System
The Sensory System (pronunciation: /ˈsɛnsəri sɪˈstɛm/) is a part of the nervous system responsible for processing sensory information. It consists of sensory neurons, neural pathways, and parts of the brain involved in sensory perception.
Etymology
The term "sensory" comes from the Latin word "sensus" which means "feeling" or "perception". The term "system" comes from the Latin word "systema" which means "an organized whole".
Function
The sensory system is designed to process information from the environment around us and from within our bodies. This information is received through various sensory receptors which are specialized to detect specific types of stimuli such as light, sound, temperature, pressure, and chemical changes. These receptors then convert the stimuli into electrical signals that are transmitted to the brain for interpretation.
Components
The sensory system is composed of several subsystems, each responsible for processing a specific type of sensory information. These include the visual system, the auditory system, the olfactory system, the gustatory system, the somatosensory system, and the vestibular system.
Visual System
The visual system is responsible for processing visual information. It includes the eyes, the optic nerve, and the visual areas of the brain.
Auditory System
The auditory system is responsible for processing sound. It includes the ears, the auditory nerve, and the auditory areas of the brain.
Olfactory System
The olfactory system is responsible for processing smell. It includes the nose, the olfactory nerve, and the olfactory areas of the brain.
Gustatory System
The gustatory system is responsible for processing taste. It includes the tongue, the gustatory nerve, and the gustatory areas of the brain.
Somatosensory System
The somatosensory system is responsible for processing touch, temperature, and body position. It includes the skin, the somatosensory nerve, and the somatosensory areas of the brain.
Vestibular System
The vestibular system is responsible for processing balance and spatial orientation. It includes the inner ear, the vestibular nerve, and the vestibular areas of the brain.
Related Terms
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Sensory system
- Wikipedia's article - Sensory system
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