Textbook Question
What three types of mechanoreceptors respond to stretching, compression, twisting, or other distortions of their plasma membrane?
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Ch. 15 Sensory Pathways and the Somatic Nervous System
Martini, Nath, Bartholomew11th EditionFundamentals of Anatomy & PhysiologyISBN: 9780136874089
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Table of contents
- Ch. 1 An Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology26
- Ch. 2 The Chemical Level of Organization34
- Ch. 3 The Cellular Level of Organization30
- Ch. 4 The Tissue Level of Organization24
- Ch. 5 The Integumentary System17
- Ch. 6 Bones and Bone Structure36
- Ch. 7 The Axial Skeleton11
- Ch. 8 The Appendicular Skeleton17
- Ch. 9 Joints13
- Ch. 10 Muscle Tissue12
- Ch. 11 The Muscular System28
- Ch. 12 Nervous Tissue18
- Ch. 13 The Spinal Cord, Spinal Nerves, and Spinal Reflexes22
- Ch. 14 The Brain and Cranial Nerves20
- Ch. 15 Sensory Pathways and the Somatic Nervous System17
- Ch. 16 The Autonomic Nervous System and Higher-Order Functions30
- Ch. 17 The Special Senses16
- Ch. 18 The Endocrine System20
- Ch. 19 Blood31
- Ch. 20 The Heart31
- Ch. 21 Blood Vessels and Circulation29
- Ch. 22 The Lymphatic System and Immunity31
- Ch. 23 The Respiratory System12
- Ch. 24 The Digestive System18
- Ch. 26 The Urinary System31
- Ch. 27 Fluids & Electrolytes32
- Ch. 28 The Reproductive System12
- Ch. 29 Development and Inheritance23
Martini, Nath, Bartholomew11th EditionFundamentals of Anatomy & PhysiologyISBN: 9780136874089Not the one you use?Change textbook
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Martini, Nath, Bartholomew 11th EditionCh. 15 Sensory Pathways and the Somatic Nervous SystemProblem 3
Martini, Nath, Bartholomew 11th EditionCh. 15 Sensory Pathways and the Somatic Nervous SystemProblem 3Chapter 15, Problem 3
The CNS interprets information entirely on the basis of the
(a) Number of action potentials that it receives
(b) Kind of action potentials that it receives
(c) Line over which sensory information arrives
(d) Intensity of the sensory stimulus
(e) Number of sensory receptors that are stimulated
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand that the Central Nervous System (CNS) interprets sensory information based on how the information is transmitted rather than the strength or number of signals alone.
Recall the concept of the 'labeled line' principle, which states that the CNS identifies the type of stimulus based on the specific pathway or nerve fiber (line) that carries the sensory information.
Recognize that the CNS does not distinguish stimuli by the kind of action potentials themselves, since all action potentials are essentially the same in form and strength.
Note that the intensity of a stimulus is encoded by the frequency of action potentials, but the CNS primarily uses the pathway to determine the nature of the stimulus.
Conclude that the CNS interprets information mainly based on the specific line over which sensory information arrives, making option (c) the key concept.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Labeled Line Principle
The CNS interprets sensory information based on the specific neural pathway or 'line' over which the signals arrive. Each sensory modality has dedicated pathways, so the brain identifies the type of stimulus by the origin of the incoming action potentials, regardless of their number or intensity.
Recommended video:
1:56
First-Line Defenses
Action Potentials and Neural Coding
Action potentials are uniform electrical signals; their frequency and pattern encode stimulus intensity and duration, but the CNS does not distinguish 'kinds' of action potentials. Instead, it relies on where the signals come from to interpret sensory information.
Recommended video:
03:53Action Potential
Sensory Receptor Specificity
Different sensory receptors respond to specific types of stimuli and send signals through dedicated pathways. The number of receptors activated can influence stimulus perception, but the CNS primarily uses the pathway identity to determine the nature of the stimulus.
Recommended video:
2:47Sensory Receptors
Related Practice
Textbook Question
Identify and shade in the locations of all the ascending sensory tracts in the following diagram of the spinal cord.
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Textbook Question
_______ receptors are normally inactive, but become active for a short time whenever there is a change in the modality that they monitor.
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Textbook Question
The larger the receptive field, the
(a) Larger the stimulus needed to stimulate a sensory receptor
(b) Fewer sensory receptors there are
(c) Harder it is to locate the exact point of stimulation
(d) Larger the area of the somatosensory cortex in the brain that deals with the area
(e) Closer together the receptor cells
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Textbook Question
Identify six types of tactile receptors located in the skin, and describe their sensitivities.
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