Outer ear - from pinna (or auricle) to tympanum (also known as tympaninc membrane or eardrum). The taste known as umami is often referred to as the savory taste. These two structures bend the lens, allowing it to focus light on the back of the eye. Perception is dependent on sensation, but not all sensations are perceived. The posterior cavity is filled with a more viscous fluid called the vitreous humor. Another way that receptors can be classified is based on their location relative to the stimuli. The highest concentration of bitter receptors appear to be in the posterior tongue, where a gag reflex could still spit out poisonous food. There are four types of papillae, based on their appearance (Figure 14.3): circumvallate, foliate, filiform, and fungiform. This complexity allows you to be aware of your surroundings and take appropriate actions. The transparent cornea covers the anterior tip of the eye and allows light to enter the eye. We recommend using a What may be happening with your cone cells within your retinas? The general senses of somatosensation for the face travel through the trigeminal system. The center of the retina has a small indentation known as the fovea. Generally, spinal nerves contain afferent axons from sensory receptors in the periphery, such as from the skin, mixed with efferent axons travelling to the muscles or other effector organs. Opsin pigments are actually transmembrane proteins that contain a cofactor known as retinal. The superior oblique is innervated by the trochlear nerve. Modality refers to the way that information is encoded, which is similar to the idea of transduction. Follicles are also wrapped in a plexus of nerve endings known as the hair follicle plexus. _______________, Are your eyes exactly the same? Only a few recognized submodalities exist within the sense of taste, or gustation. The chemical senses are taste and smell. The middle ear consists of a space spanned by three small bones called the ossicles. Sensory System Anatomy, Structure, & Physiology - GetBodySmart The outermost layer is the fibrous tunic, which includes the white sclera and clear cornea. The photoreceptors (rods and cones) change their membrane potential when stimulated by light energy. The LibreTexts libraries arePowered by NICE CXone Expertand are supported by the Department of Education Open Textbook Pilot Project, the UC Davis Office of the Provost, the UC Davis Library, the California State University Affordable Learning Solutions Program, and Merlot.