Vision:

• Process of perceiving visual stimuli through the eyes.

• Eye structures: cornea, lens, retina, optic nerve.

• Light enters, focused on the retina.

• Rods and cones in retina detect light.

• Signals sent via optic nerve to the visual cortex for processing.

Hearing:

• Perception of sound.

• Ear parts: external ear, middle ear, inner ear.

• Sound waves enter ear canal, vibrate eardrum.

• Ossicles transmit vibrations to cochlea.

• Hair cells in cochlea convert vibrations to electrical signals.

• Signals transmitted to auditory cortex via auditory nerve.

The Basilar Membrane:

• Part of the cochlea.

• Vibrates in response to sound waves.

• High-frequency sounds vibrate near the base; low-frequency sounds near the apex.

• Allows perception of different pitches.

The Organ of Corti:

• Structure within the cochlea.

• Contains hair cells.

• Converts mechanical vibrations into electrical signals.

• Specific arrangement along the basilar membrane for perceiving different frequencies.

The Vestibular Apparatus:

• Located in the inner ear.

• Responsible for balance and spatial orientation.

• Includes semicircular canals and otolith organs.

• Detects changes in head position and movement.

The Somatic Senses:

• Include touch, temperature, pain, proprioception.

• Sensory receptors in skin and muscles.

• Detect and transmit signals to the brain.

• Different receptors for various stimuli (pressure, temperature, pain).

Olfaction (The Sense Of Smell):

• Detects odor molecules in the air.

• Specialized olfactory receptors in the nasal cavity.

• Signals sent to the olfactory bulb in the brain.

• Crucial for taste perception and emotions.

Gustation (The Sense Of Taste):

• Involves taste buds on the tongue and in the mouth.

• Taste receptor cells respond to different tastes (sweet, salty, sour, bitter, umami).

• Signals integrated with other sensory information in the brain for flavor perception.