15.1 – Introduction to the Sensory Systems

 Learning Objectives

  • Identify the anatomy of the sensory systems and describe the main functions of the sensory systems
  • Analyze, translate, and define medical terms and common abbreviations of the sensory systems
  • Practice the spelling and pronunciation of sensory systems terminology
  • Identify the medical specialties associated with the sensory systems and explore common diseases, disorders, diagnostic tests and procedures related to the sensory systems

Sensory Systems Word Parts

Click on prefixes, combining forms, and suffixes to reveal a list of word parts to memorize for the sensory systems.

Prefix
  • bi- (two)
  • bin- (two)
  • a- (absence of, without, no, not, negates meaning)
  • an- (absence of, without, no, not negates meaning)
  • endo- (within, in)
Combining Form
  • audi/o (hearing)
  • aur/o (ear)
  • aur/i (ear)
  • blephar/o (eyelid)
  • cochle/o (cochlea)
  • conjunctiv/o (conjunctiva)
  • cor/o (pupil)
  • corne/o (cornea)
  • core/o (pupil)
  • cry/o (cold)
  • dacry/o (tear, tear duct)
  • dipl/o (two, double)
  • ir/o (iris)
  • irid/o (iris)
  • is/o (equal)
  • kerat/o (cornea)
  • labyrith/o (labyrinth, inner ear)
  • lacrim/o (tear, tear duct)
  • mastoid/o (mastoid bone)
  • myring/o (tympanic membrane, eardrum)
  • ocul/o (eye)
  • ophthalm/o (eye)
  • opt/o (vision)
  • ot/o (ear)
  • phac/o (lens)
  • phak/o (lens)
  • phot/o (light)
  • pupill/o (pupil)
  • retin/o (retina)
  • scler/o (sclera)
  • staped/o (stapes, middle ear)
  • ton/o (tension, pressure)
  • tympan/o (tympanic membrane, middle ear)
  • vestibul/o (vestibule)
Suffix
  • -al (pertaining to)
  • -algia (pain)
  • -ar (pertaining to)
  • -ary (pertaining to)
  • -ectomy (excision or surgical removal)
  • -eal (pertaining to)
  • -gram (record, radiographic image)
  • -graphy (process of recording)
  • -ia (condition of, diseased or abnormal state)
  • -ic (pertaining to)
  • -itis (inflammation)
  • -logist (specialist or physician who studies and treats)
  • -logy (study of)
  • -malacia (softening)
  • -meter (instrument used to measure)
  • -metry (process of measuring)
  • -oma (tumour, swelling)
  • -opia (vision as it relates to condition)
  • -plegia (paralysis)
  • -ptosis (prolapse, drooping, sagging)
  • -stomy (creation of artificial opening)
  • -pathy (disease)
  • -pexy (surgical fixation)
  • -phobia (abnormal fear, aversion to specific things)
  • -plasty (surgical repair)
  • -plegia (paralysis)
  • -rrhea (flow, discharge)
  • -sclerosis (hardening)
  • -scope (instrument used to view)
  • -scopy (process of viewing)
  • -sis (abnormal condition)
  • -tomy (incision, cut into)

Activity source: Sensory Systems Word Parts by Kimberlee Carter, from Building a Medical Terminology Foundation by Kimberlee Carter and Marie Rutherford, licensed under CC BY- 4.0. /Text version added.

Introduction to the Sensory Systems

Ask anyone what the senses are, and they are likely to list the five major senses as taste, smell, touch, hearing, and sight. However, these are not all of the senses. The most obvious omission from this list is balance. Touch can be further subdivided into pressure, vibration, stretch, and hair follicle position on the basis of the type of mechanoreceptors that perceive these touch sensations. Other overlooked senses include temperature perception by thermoreceptors and pain perception by nociceptors.

Within the realm of physiology, senses can be classified as either general or special. A general sense is one that is distributed throughout the body and has receptor cells within the structures of other organs. Mechanoreceptors in the skin, muscles, or the walls of blood vessels are examples of this type. General senses often contribute to the sense of touch, as described above, or to proprioception and kinesthesia, or to a visceral sense, which is most important to autonomic functions. A special sense is one that has a specific organ devoted to it, namely the eye, inner ear, tongue, or nose.

Gustation (Taste) and Olfaction (Smell)

Watch Taste & Smell: Crash Course Anatomy & Physiology #16 (11 min) on YouTube

Media 15.1: CrashCourse. (2015, April 27). Taste & amell: Crash Course anatomy & physiology #16 [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/mFm3yA1nslE

Sensory Systems Medical Terms

Sensory Systems Medical Terms (Text Version)

Practice the following sensory system words by breaking into word parts and pronouncing.

  1. anisocoria (an-ī-sō-KŌR-ē-ă)
    • condition of absence of equal pupil (size)
  2. aphakia (ă-FĀ-kē-ă)
    • condition of no lens
  3. audiogram (OD-ē-ō-gram)
    • graphic record (radiographic image) of hearing
  4. audiologist (od-ē-OL-ŏ-jĭst)
    • specialist who studies and treats the hearing
  5. audiology (od-ē-OL-ŏ-jē)
    • study of the hearing
  6. audiometer (od-ē-OM-ĕt-ĕr)
    • instrument used to measure hearing
  7. audiometry (od-ē-OM-ĕ-trē)
    • measuring hearing
  8. aural (OR-ăl)
    • pertaining to the ear
  9. binocular (bĭn-ŎK-ū-lăr)
    • pertaining to both eyes
  10. blepharitis (blĕf-ăr-Ī-tĭs)
    • inflammation of the eyelid
  11. blepharoplasty (BLĔF-ă-rō-plăs-tē)
    • surgical repair of the eyelid
  12. blepharoptosis (BLĔF-ă-rōp-TŌ-sĭs)
    • condition of drooping of the eyelid
  13. cochlear (KOK-lē-ăr)
    • pertaining to the cochlea
  14. cochlear implant (KOK-lē-ă IM-plant)
    • pertaining to the cochlear implant
  15. conjunctivitis (kŏn-jŭnk-tĭ-VĪT-ĭs)
    • inflammation of the conjunctiva
  16. corneal (KOR-nē-ă)
    • pertaining to the cornea
  17. cryoretinopexy (krī-ō-RET-in-ō-pek-sē)
    • surgical fixation of the retina using extreme cold
  18. dacrocystitis (dak-rē-ŏ-sis-TĪT-ĭs)
    • inflammation of the tear (lacrimal) sac
  19. dacryocystorhinostomy (dak-rē-ŏ-sis-tŏ-rī-NOS-tŏ-mē)
    • creation of an artificial opening between the lacrimal sac and the nose
  20. diplopia (dip-LŌ-pē-ă)
    • condition of double vision
  21. electrocochleography (ē-lek-trō-kok-lē-OG-ră-fē)
    • process of recording the electrical activity in the cochlea
  22. endophthalmitis (ĕn-dŏf-thăl-MĪ-tĭs)
    • inflammation within the eye
  23. intraocular (in-tră-OK-yŭ-lăr)
    • pertaining to within the eye
  24. iridectomy (ir-ĭ-DEK-tŏ-mē)
    • excision of (part of) the iris
  25. iridoplegia (ir-ĭ-dō-PLĒ-j(ē-)ă, īr)
    • paralysis of the iris
  26. iridotomy (ĭr-ĭ-DŎT-ō-mē)
    • incision into the iris
  27. iritis (ī-RĪT-ĭs)
    • inflammation of the iris
  28. isocoria (ī-sō-KŌ-rē-ă)
    • condition of equal pupils
  29. keratitis (ker-ă-TĪT-ĭs)
    • inflammation of the cornea
  30. keratomalacia (kĕr-ă-tō-mă-LĀ-shē-ă)
    • condition of softening of the cornea
  31. keratometer (kĕr-ă-TŎM-ĕ-ter)
    • instrument used to measure (the curvature) of the eye
  32. keratoplasty (KER-ăt-ō-plas-tē)
    • surgical repair of the cornea
  33. labyrinthectomy (lab-ĭ-rin-THEK-tŏ-mē)
    • excision of the inner ear (labyrinth)
  34. labyrinthitis (lab-ĭ-rin-THĪT-ĭs)
    • inflammation of the inner ear (labyrinth)
  35. lacrimal (LAK-rĭ-măl)
    • pertaining to the tear duct
  36. leukocoria (loo-kō-KŎR-ē-ă)
    • condition of white pupil
  37. mastoidectomy (măs-tŏy-d-ĔK-tō-mē)
    • excision of the mastoid bone
  38. mastoiditis (mas-toyd-ĪT-ĭs)
    • inflammation of the mastoid bone
  39. mastoidotomy (măs-toyd-ŎT-ō-mē)
    • incision into the mastoid bone
  40. myringitis (mĭr-ĭn-JĪ-tĭs)
    • inflammation of the tympanic membrane
  41. myringoplasty (mĭr-ĬN-gō-plăst-ē)
    • surgical repair of the tympanic membrane
  42. myringotomy (mĭr-ĭn-GŎT-ō-mē)
    • incision into the tympanic membrane
  43. nasolacrimal (nā-zō-LAK-rĭ-măl)
    • pertaining to the nose and the tear duct
  44. nasopharyngeal (nā-zō-FAR-in-gēl)
    • pertaining to the nose and pharynx (throat)
  45. oculomycosis (ŏk-ū-lō-mī-KŌ-sĭs)
    • abnormal condition of the eye caused by a fungus
  46. ophthalmalgia (ŏf-thăl-MĂL-jē-ă)
    • condition of pain in the eye
  47. ophthalmic (of-THAL-mik)
    • pertaining to the eye
  48. ophthalmologist (ŏf-thăl-MŎL-ō-jĭst)
    • specialist of the eye
  49. ophthalmology (Ophth) (ŏf-thăl-MŎL-ō-jē)
    • study of the eye
  50. ophthalmopathy (ŏf-thăl-MŎP-ă-thē)
    • disease of the eye
  51. ophthalmoplegia (of-thal-mō-PLĒ-j(ē-)ă)
    • paralysis of the eye
  52. ophthalmoscope (of-THAL-mŏ-skōp)
    • instrument used to view the eye
  53. ophthalmoscopy (of-thal-MOS-kŏ-pē)
    • process of viewing the eye
  54. optic (OP-tik)
    • pertaining to vision
  55. optometry (op-TOM-ĕ-trē)
    • measuring vision
  56. otalgia (ō-TĂL-jē-ă)
    • condition of pain in the ear
  57. otologist ( ō-TŎL-ō-jĭst)
    • specialist who studies and treats disorders and diseases of the ear
  58. otology (ō-TŎL-ō-jē)
    • study of the ear
  59. otomastoiditis (ō-tō-mas-toyd-ĪT-ĭs)
    • inflammation of the ear and mastoid bone
  60. otomycosis (ō-tō-mī-KŌ-sĭs)
    • abnormal condition of fungus in the ear
  61. otopyorrhea (ō-tō-pī-ō-RĒ-ă)
    • discharge of pus from the ear
  62. otorhinolaryngologist (ō-tō-RĪ-nō-lăr-ĭn-GŎL-ō-jĭst)
    • specialist or physician who studies and treats diseases and disorders of the ears,
  63. otorrhea (ō-tō-RĒ-ă)
    • discharge from the ear
  64. otosclerosis (ō-tō-sklē-RŌ-sĭs)
    • condition of hardening of the ear
  65. otoscope(Ō-tō-skōp)
    • instrument used to view the ear
  66. otoscopy (ō-TŎS-kō-pē)
    • process of viewing the ear
  67. phacomalacia (făk-ō-mă-LĀ-shē-ă)
    • condition of softening of the lens
  68. photophobia (fō-tō-FŌ-bē-ă)
    • condition of sensitivity to light
  69. pseudophakia (SOOD-ō-FĀ-kē-a)
    • condition of fake lens
  70. pupillary (PŪ-pĭ-lĕr-ē)
    • pertaining to pupil
  71. pupillometer (pū-pĭl-ŎM-ĕ-tĕr)
    • instrument used to measure the pupil
  72. pupilloscope (pū-pĭl-ŎS-kōp)
    • instrument used to view the pupil
  73. retinal (RĔT-ĭ-năl)
    • pertaining to the retina
  74. retinoblastoma (ret-ĭn-ō-blas-TŌ-mă)
    • tumour arising from a developing retinal cell
  75. retinopathy (ret-ĭn-OP-ă-thē)
    • disease of the retina
  76. retinoscopy (ret-ĭn-OS-kŏ-pē)
    • process of viewing the retina
  77. sclerokeratitis (sklĕr-ō-kĕr-ă-TĪ-tĭs)
    • inflammation of the sclera and cornea
  78. scleromalacia (sklĕ-rō-mā-LĀ-sē-ă)
    • softening of the sclera
  79. sclerotomy (sklĕ-ROT-ŏ-mē)
    • incision into the sclera
  80. stapedectomy (stā-pĕ-DEK-tŏ-mē)
    • excision of the stapes
  81. tonometer (tō-NOM-ĕt-ĕr)
    • instrument used to measure pressure (within the eye)
  82. tonometry (tō-NOM-ĕ-trē)
    • process of measuring pressure
  83. tympanometer (tĭm-pă-NŎM-ĕ-tēr)
    • instrument used to measure the middle ear
  84. tympanometry (tĭm-pă-NŎM-ĕ-trē)
    • measurement of the tympanic membrane
  85. tympanoplasty (tĭm-păn-ō-PLĂS-tē)
    • membranesurgical repair of the tympanic
  86. vestibular (ves-TIB-yŭ-lăr)
    • pertaining to the vestibule
  87. vestibulocochlear (ves-tĭ-būl-ō-KŌ-klē-ar)
    • vestibul/o/cochle/ar
    • pertaining to the vestibule and cochlea
  88. xerophthalmia (zer-of-THAL-mē-ă)
    • xer/ophthalm/ia
    • * Rebel, does not follow the rules*
    • condition of dry eye

Activity source: Sensory Systems Medical Terms by Kimberlee Carter, from Building a Medical Terminology Foundation by Kimberlee Carter and Marie Rutherford, licensed under CC BY- 4.0. /Text version added.

Gustation (Taste)

Gustation is the special sense associated with the tongue. The surface of the tongue, along with the rest of the oral cavity, is lined by a stratified squamous epithelium. Raised bumps called papillae contain the structures for gustatory transduction. There are four types of papillae based on their appearance:

  1. circumvallate
  2. foliate
  3. filiform
  4. fungiform

Within the structure of the papillae are taste buds that contain specialized gustatory receptor cells for the transduction of taste stimuli. These receptor cells are sensitive to the chemicals contained within foods that are ingested, and they release neurotransmitters based on the amount of the chemical in the food. Neurotransmitters from the gustatory cells can activate sensory neurons in the facial, glossopharyngeal, and vagus cranial nerves.

Only a few recognized submodalities exist within the sense of taste, or gustation. Until recently, only four tastes were recognized: sweet, salty, sour, and bitter. Research at the turn of the 20th century led to the recognition of the fifth taste, umami, during the mid-1980s. Recent research has suggested that there may also be a sixth taste for fats or lipids.

Olfaction (Smell)

Like taste, olfaction is also responsive to chemical stimuli. The olfactory receptor neurons are located in a small region within the superior nasal cavity. The nasal epithelium, including the olfactory cells, can be harmed by airborne toxic chemicals. Scent receptor messages travel to the cerebrum, specifically to the primary olfactory cortex that is located in the inferior and medial areas of the temporal lobe and additionally to the hypothalamus, where smells become associated with long-term memory and emotional response.

Did You Know?

The human body can detect over 10,000 odours.

Concept Check

  • Which parts of the brain are active with recording and associating scents with memories and emotions?
  • Recall and list the four types of papillae (taste buds) found on the tongue.

Attribution

Except where otherwise noted, this chapter is adapted from “Sensory Systems” in Building a Medical Terminology Foundation by Kimberlee Carter and Marie Rutherford, licensed under CC BY 4.0. / A derivative of Betts et al., which can be accessed for free from Anatomy and Physiology (OpenStax). Adaptations: dividing Sensory Systems chapter content into sub-chapters.

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Building a Medical Terminology Foundation 2e Copyright © 2024 by Kimberlee Carter; Marie Rutherford; and Connie Stevens is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

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