Characteristics of Sensory Receptors

Characteristics of Sensory Receptors

1. Differential Sensitivity: Each type of receptor is highly sensitive to one type of stimulus & almost non responsive to other sensory stimuli. Examples: Rods & cones: respond to light Osmoreceptors: changes in osmolarity of body fluids Pain receptors: stimuli severe enough to damage tissues

Characteristics of Sensory Receptors (cont)

2. Sensory Coding:
Converting a receptor stimulus to a recognizable sensation Sensory receptors code for four elementary attributes:4 i. ii. iii. iv. Modality Location Intensity Duration

i. Modality:
Each principle type of sensation that we can experience Four basic modalities or sensitivity to one predominant form of energy are; Mechanical, thermal, electromagnetic, chemical Yet each modality of sensation is transmitted in the form of impulses or A.P in nerve fibers. Stimulus modality is encoded by labeled lines; consist of pathways of sensory neurons dedicated to that modality.

ii. Location:
Site on body where stimulus was originated i.e. Localization; is carried out by lateral inhibition Each nerve tract terminates at specific point in CNS and type of sensation is determined by that point in CNS. Specificity of Nerve fibers for transmitting only one modality of sensation is called Labeled line principle

iii. Intensity:
Response amplitude/ frequency of AP generation e.g. Application of high pressure on skin Receptor potential frequency of AP in axon firing rate in single axon recruit more receptors in receptive field

Weber-Fechner Law
Magnitude of sensation felt is proportional to the log of the intensity of stimulus. Stimulus intensity is encoded by three ways: i. No. of receptors activated ii. Difference in firing rates of sensory neurons in the sensory pathway iii. Activating different types of receptors

iv. Duration: Time from start to the end of response

Sustained stimulus of constant strength decline in frequency of AP in sensory nerve due to adaptation or Desensitization Degree of adaptation varies from one sense to the other e.g. a. Rapidly adapting (phasic) receptors: Pacinian, Meissner's corpuscle b. Slowly adapting (tonic) receptors: Merkel disc, Ruffni's endings, Muscle spindles, Nociceptors

Characteristics of Sensory Receptors (cont) 3. Transduction of sensory stimuli into Nerve Impulses:
Excites receptor (i.e. change in membrane potential) Receptor potential. Mechanism of Receptor Potential:
By mechanical deformation / stretch on receptor membrane By chemicals By change in temp By ele4ctromagnetic radiation

Stimulus

Change in membrane permeability of receptor Diffusion of ions Change in Transmembrane Potential or Receptor Potential

Receptor Potential in Pacinian Corpuscle

1. Compression elongation, indent or
deformation of central N. fiber.

Max. amplitude of receptor potential = 100 mV i.e. similar to action potential.

2. Ion channels (Mechanical) open Na+ influx

( internal positivity)

3. Development of receptor potential 4. Induction of local circuits of current. 5. A.P spreads along the nerve fiber

Characteristics of Sensory Receptors (cont) 4. Adaptation of Receptors:

(Reduction or disappearance of response to a continuous sensory stimulus)

All sensory receptors adapt partially or completely to a constant stimulus after a period of time.
Pacinian corpuscle adapts extremely rapidly Hair receptors adapt within a second Joint capsule & Muscle spindle receptors adapt slowly Mechanoreceptors (Baroreceptors) take 2 days to adapt Non-mechanoreceptors (Chemoreceptor & Pain receptors) NEVER adapt

Characteristics of Sensory Receptors (cont) Mechanisms of Adaptation:

1. Redistribution of fluid in the Receptor: Pacinian corpuscle (a viscoelastic structure)
a. Application of distorting force on the corpuscle b. Receptor potential develops c. Transmitted to nerve terminal d. Fluid within the corpuscle gets redistributed (within a few hundredth of a second) & Receptor potential is no longer elicited.

2. Accommodation (Much slower adaptation) ;

By progressive inactivation of Na+ channels in nerve fiber

Usefulness of Receptor Adaptation

1. Slowly adapting receptors (Tonic receptors) Keep the brain apprised of the status of the body and its relation to the surroundings; e.g. * Muscle spindle & Golgi tendon organs
Apprise about status of muscle contraction and load on muscle tendon.

* Receptors of Macula in Vestibular apparatus

Reflex rightening of head & postural adjustments during horizontal & vertical (linear) acceleration

* Pain receptors * Baroreceptors in arteries * Chemoreceptors of Carotid & Aortic bodies

Usefulness of Receptor Adaptation (cont.) 2. Rapidly adapting receptors detect change in stimulus strength: (Rate, Movement or Phasic receptors): React strongly while change is actually taking place; e.g. Pacinian corpuscle apprise the brain of rapid tissue deformations Receptors in semicircular canals in the vestibular apparatus of ear: detect rate at which one begins
to turn in next 2 sec while running around a curve i.e. predictive function of rate receptors