Why Is Taste So Closely Associated With Smell
Reflex and Sensory Physiology. Lab # 4
Satta Charis Bemah
Wilmington University
Reflex and Sensory Physiology
Purpose:
What is the purpose of this exercise?
The purpose of this lab is focus towards testing our reflexes and sensory physiology. We use these every day but we rarely do understand how much they contribute to our ability to function normally. A reflex is a rapid, involuntary motor response to stimuli. We will be conducting several experiments to test our reflexes throughout this lab.
Are there any safety concerns associated with this exercise? If so, list what they are and what precautions should be taken.
Some of the safety precautions …show more content…
include: wearing safety glasses, mask, and gloves. We need to also be careful with sharp objects which are involved. Keep all lab materials out of reach of children.
Exercise 1: Stretch Reflexes
Questions:
A. Which muscles contracted with the patellar reflex?
The muscles contracted with the patella reflex include the sharp top on the tendon which slightly stretches the quadriceps, the complex of muscles which is at the front of the upper leg. These muscles in reaction, contract and the contraction tends to straighten the leg in a kicking motion.
B. Which nerves carried the stimulus to the spinal cord?
The nerves which carried the stimulus to the spinal cord stimulates stretch sensory receptors that trigger an afferent impulse in a sensory nerve fiber of the femoral nerve leading to the lumber region of the spinal cord.
C. Is the patellar reflex response during mental distraction greater than or less than the response without mental distraction?
The knee jerk may be reinforced by a second stimulus, such as a loud noise when the noise is appropriately timed with respect to the tapping of the tendon.
D. What can be concluded about the effect of mental distraction on reflex activity?
I would conclude a decrease in mental excitement is associated with a decrease in the reflex.
E. Is the patellar reflex more or less vigorous after exercise?
The strength of the tap required to evoke the reflex is higher after physical or mental work.
F. Did muscle function or nervous system activity cause the changes observed after exercise? Explain.
For the fact that due to nervous system response and muscle fatigue, there is a decrease in response speed. This is because the human body needs time and rest in order to recover after exercise.
G. Describe the result of the Achilles tendon test.
The result of the Achilles tendon test is that it squeezes the calf muscles while watching for a flex response that is called plantar flexion, in the foot. The foot would move when the calf muscles are squeezed.
H. Does the gastrocnemius muscle normally do what you observed with this test? (Think about the function of this muscle).
I observed that the gastrocnemius heads arises from the posterior portions of the femoral condyles. The gastrocnemius muscle is stretched with the knee fully extended and the soleus is the only stretched with the knee flexed.
Exercise 2: The Crossed Extensor Reflex
Questions:
A. What happened when you pricked the subject’s finger?
When you picked the subject’s finger, the reflex occur the flexors in the withdrawing hands contract and the extensors relax, while in the opposite occurs.
B. Did this reflex seem to be slower than the other reflexes observed? Why or why not?
The reflex is slower because the signals need to travel up to the spinal cord and cause contraction of the contralateral muscles.
Exercise 3: Cranial Nerve Reflexes
Questions:
A. Describe what happened when the subject’s cornea was touched.
When the subject cornea was touched, you blink.
B. What is the function of the corneal reflex? The function of the corneal reflex is involuntary movement of the eyelids through light, stimulation or peripheral stimulus.
C. Why do humans have a gag reflex?
Humans have a gag reflex in order to prevent choking
Exercise 4: Cow Eye Dissection
Questions:
A. What is the function of the retina?
The function of the retina is that It receives the reverse image of your eye up to down. It also transmits the image to the brain and then it is returned correct side up.
B. What is the function of the choroid layer?
The function of the choroid layer is that it is the middle layer of the eye and It absorbs light and prevents internal reflection.
C. What is the function of the external ocular muscles?
The function of the external ocular muscles is that it controls the movement and position of the eyeball.
Exercise 5: Autonomic Reflexes
Observations:
Normal:
Right Pupil ____3.0__ mm Left Pupil __3.0____ mm
What was the pupillary response of the subject’s eye to light?
Left pupil with light __1.7____ mm
What happened to the right pupil as you shined light into the left eye?
As you shine light into the left eye, It will constrict
What does this tell you about the pupillary reflex?
It tells me that the pupillary reflex don’t differentiate between the two eyes
What was the reaction of the left pupil to the ciliospinal reflex?
The reaction is dilation.
What was the reaction of the right pupil to the ciliospinal reflex?
The reaction is dilation.
Questions:
A. What is the function of the pupillary reflex?
The function of the pupillary reflex is that, It is associated with pupillary function, which includes light reflex and accommodation reflex.
B. Is the sympathetic or parasympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system at work during these tests? Explain your reasoning.
Exercise 6: Blind Spots and Afterimages
Observations:
Right eye blind spot distance ___6__ cm
Left eye blind spot distance ___6__ cm
Describe what you saw in the afterimages.
What was seen in the afterimages was red colors.
Questions:
A. Why do we have a blind spot?
We have a blind spot in order for us to know when to move our head or body to locate stimuli.
B. What causes an afterimage?
The color cells in the eye get tired when you look at an image for a long time. When you look at an image that has a strong single color the opposite color cells will be stronger.
Exercise 7: Taste and Smell
Observations:
Map your taste receptors on the tongue diagram below
The taste receptors on the toungn bitter which is located at the deep inner layer of the tongue. Sour taste is located at the upper right and left coners of the tongue . Salty taste is located front right and left coners of tongue and the sweet taste is located right at the front of the tongue.
Describe how the taste of the four solutions differed with your nose open and your nose pinched shut.
Flavor comes from vapors rising from our mouths or throats to our olfactory receptors in our nasal passages.
So if our nasal passages are blocked we would be able not distinguish flavors.
Questions:
A. Why are taste and smell receptors called chemoreceptors?
Taste and smell receptors are called chemoreceptors because specialized sensory organs adapted for excitation by chemical substances.
B. Why is taste so closely associated with smell?
Taste and smell share similar pathways to the brain and are influenced by the same stimuli. Both taste buds and olfactory bulbs are in a group of receptors known as chemoreceptors in the case of smell it’s the aromatic gases that trigger a response. In taste, it’s the mixture of chemicals with saliva in the mouth that trigger a response.
C. Propose a reason why appetite may be lost when someone has a head cold.
A reason why appetite may be lost when someone has a head cold is because you cannot taste as well because your nose is congested.
Exercise 8: Hearing
Observations:
Distance from ear to where ticking became inaudible ___18___ cm
Describe what was observed as you moved the ticking device around to different areas of the …show more content…
head.
I observed that at times, I was right on with the location of the device and other times I was completely wrong on the location of the device.
Record your observations using the tuning fork.
I recalled that it was equally loud of both ears when placed on the top of head. When placed at the mastoid process it could be heard for 6seconds in both ears. When placed in front of the ear canal first I could here it in both ears for 12 seconds but could no longer hear when placed near mastoid process.
Questions:
A. How is sound conducted in the ear?
The ear has three main sections. In the outer ear, the sound waves are still moving in air. In the middle ear, the sound waves are being conducted by three small bones. In the inner ear, the waves are moving through the fluid-filled cochlea. The sense organ that picks up sound waves from the surrounding air and turns them into nerve impulses which can be sent to the brain. The signals in these waves of bouncing air molecules into electrical nerve signals, while keeping as much of the information in the signal as possible.
B. Why are the cells responsible for hearing called mechanoreceptors?
Cells responsible for hearing are called mechanoreceptors because they are hair cells that receive sense stimulus through feeling.
Exercise 9: Balance
Observations:
Was the subject able to walk a straight line?
Yes.
What does this tell you about their balance centers in the brain?
They are good and have to do with sight.
Describe your observations with the subject facing you, eyes open.
I observed No wobbling at all.
Describe your observations with the subject facing you with eyes closed.
Observed Slight swaying.
Describe the observations with the subject turned to side and eyes open.
Slight swaying.
Describe the observations with the subject turned to the side and eyes closed.
The subject turned to the side and eyes closed, started moving towards the direction they were facing.
Describe the observations with subject’s foot off the floor, eyes open.
Balance was maintained.
Describe the observations with the subject’s foot off the floor, eyes closed.
The subject’s foot off the floor, eyes closed had to put hand out for balance after 30 seconds or so.
Questions:
A. Where is balance processed in the brain?
The Cerebellum
B. What can be concluded about the effect of vision on balance?
Vision plays a direct and important role in stabilizing balance by means of providing the nervous system with continually updated information regarding the position as well as movements of body segments in relation to each other and the environment.
C. What is the function of the otolithic membrane?
The otolithic membrane is a gelatinous membrane is located in the vestibular apparatus of the inner ear, and it plays an essential role in the brain's interpretation of equilibrium.
Conclusions:
What do sensory and reflex tests tell about the functions of the nervous system as a whole?
The central nerves system receives sensory information from other parts of the body or the body's external environment and it transmits motor information to other parts of the body by way of the peripheral nervous system. Cranial nerve function is commonly assessed as part of a general physical examination of the head, eyes, ears, nose, throat, and neck. The tests provide a frame for how well our nervous system is taking in, processing, and also dispensing information to and from the Central Nerves System through the Peripheral Nervous
System.
Satta Charis Bemah
Wilmington University
Reflex and Sensory Physiology
Purpose:
What is the purpose of this exercise?
The purpose of this lab is focus towards testing our reflexes and sensory physiology. We use these every day but we rarely do understand how much they contribute to our ability to function normally. A reflex is a rapid, involuntary motor response to stimuli. We will be conducting several experiments to test our reflexes throughout this lab.
Are there any safety concerns associated with this exercise? If so, list what they are and what precautions should be taken.
Some of the safety precautions …show more content…
include: wearing safety glasses, mask, and gloves. We need to also be careful with sharp objects which are involved. Keep all lab materials out of reach of children.
Exercise 1: Stretch Reflexes
Questions:
A. Which muscles contracted with the patellar reflex?
The muscles contracted with the patella reflex include the sharp top on the tendon which slightly stretches the quadriceps, the complex of muscles which is at the front of the upper leg. These muscles in reaction, contract and the contraction tends to straighten the leg in a kicking motion.
B. Which nerves carried the stimulus to the spinal cord?
The nerves which carried the stimulus to the spinal cord stimulates stretch sensory receptors that trigger an afferent impulse in a sensory nerve fiber of the femoral nerve leading to the lumber region of the spinal cord.
C. Is the patellar reflex response during mental distraction greater than or less than the response without mental distraction?
The knee jerk may be reinforced by a second stimulus, such as a loud noise when the noise is appropriately timed with respect to the tapping of the tendon.
D. What can be concluded about the effect of mental distraction on reflex activity?
I would conclude a decrease in mental excitement is associated with a decrease in the reflex.
E. Is the patellar reflex more or less vigorous after exercise?
The strength of the tap required to evoke the reflex is higher after physical or mental work.
F. Did muscle function or nervous system activity cause the changes observed after exercise? Explain.
For the fact that due to nervous system response and muscle fatigue, there is a decrease in response speed. This is because the human body needs time and rest in order to recover after exercise.
G. Describe the result of the Achilles tendon test.
The result of the Achilles tendon test is that it squeezes the calf muscles while watching for a flex response that is called plantar flexion, in the foot. The foot would move when the calf muscles are squeezed.
H. Does the gastrocnemius muscle normally do what you observed with this test? (Think about the function of this muscle).
I observed that the gastrocnemius heads arises from the posterior portions of the femoral condyles. The gastrocnemius muscle is stretched with the knee fully extended and the soleus is the only stretched with the knee flexed.
Exercise 2: The Crossed Extensor Reflex
Questions:
A. What happened when you pricked the subject’s finger?
When you picked the subject’s finger, the reflex occur the flexors in the withdrawing hands contract and the extensors relax, while in the opposite occurs.
B. Did this reflex seem to be slower than the other reflexes observed? Why or why not?
The reflex is slower because the signals need to travel up to the spinal cord and cause contraction of the contralateral muscles.
Exercise 3: Cranial Nerve Reflexes
Questions:
A. Describe what happened when the subject’s cornea was touched.
When the subject cornea was touched, you blink.
B. What is the function of the corneal reflex? The function of the corneal reflex is involuntary movement of the eyelids through light, stimulation or peripheral stimulus.
C. Why do humans have a gag reflex?
Humans have a gag reflex in order to prevent choking
Exercise 4: Cow Eye Dissection
Questions:
A. What is the function of the retina?
The function of the retina is that It receives the reverse image of your eye up to down. It also transmits the image to the brain and then it is returned correct side up.
B. What is the function of the choroid layer?
The function of the choroid layer is that it is the middle layer of the eye and It absorbs light and prevents internal reflection.
C. What is the function of the external ocular muscles?
The function of the external ocular muscles is that it controls the movement and position of the eyeball.
Exercise 5: Autonomic Reflexes
Observations:
Normal:
Right Pupil ____3.0__ mm Left Pupil __3.0____ mm
What was the pupillary response of the subject’s eye to light?
Left pupil with light __1.7____ mm
What happened to the right pupil as you shined light into the left eye?
As you shine light into the left eye, It will constrict
What does this tell you about the pupillary reflex?
It tells me that the pupillary reflex don’t differentiate between the two eyes
What was the reaction of the left pupil to the ciliospinal reflex?
The reaction is dilation.
What was the reaction of the right pupil to the ciliospinal reflex?
The reaction is dilation.
Questions:
A. What is the function of the pupillary reflex?
The function of the pupillary reflex is that, It is associated with pupillary function, which includes light reflex and accommodation reflex.
B. Is the sympathetic or parasympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system at work during these tests? Explain your reasoning.
Exercise 6: Blind Spots and Afterimages
Observations:
Right eye blind spot distance ___6__ cm
Left eye blind spot distance ___6__ cm
Describe what you saw in the afterimages.
What was seen in the afterimages was red colors.
Questions:
A. Why do we have a blind spot?
We have a blind spot in order for us to know when to move our head or body to locate stimuli.
B. What causes an afterimage?
The color cells in the eye get tired when you look at an image for a long time. When you look at an image that has a strong single color the opposite color cells will be stronger.
Exercise 7: Taste and Smell
Observations:
Map your taste receptors on the tongue diagram below
The taste receptors on the toungn bitter which is located at the deep inner layer of the tongue. Sour taste is located at the upper right and left coners of the tongue . Salty taste is located front right and left coners of tongue and the sweet taste is located right at the front of the tongue.
Describe how the taste of the four solutions differed with your nose open and your nose pinched shut.
Flavor comes from vapors rising from our mouths or throats to our olfactory receptors in our nasal passages.
So if our nasal passages are blocked we would be able not distinguish flavors.
Questions:
A. Why are taste and smell receptors called chemoreceptors?
Taste and smell receptors are called chemoreceptors because specialized sensory organs adapted for excitation by chemical substances.
B. Why is taste so closely associated with smell?
Taste and smell share similar pathways to the brain and are influenced by the same stimuli. Both taste buds and olfactory bulbs are in a group of receptors known as chemoreceptors in the case of smell it’s the aromatic gases that trigger a response. In taste, it’s the mixture of chemicals with saliva in the mouth that trigger a response.
C. Propose a reason why appetite may be lost when someone has a head cold.
A reason why appetite may be lost when someone has a head cold is because you cannot taste as well because your nose is congested.
Exercise 8: Hearing
Observations:
Distance from ear to where ticking became inaudible ___18___ cm
Describe what was observed as you moved the ticking device around to different areas of the …show more content…
head.
I observed that at times, I was right on with the location of the device and other times I was completely wrong on the location of the device.
Record your observations using the tuning fork.
I recalled that it was equally loud of both ears when placed on the top of head. When placed at the mastoid process it could be heard for 6seconds in both ears. When placed in front of the ear canal first I could here it in both ears for 12 seconds but could no longer hear when placed near mastoid process.
Questions:
A. How is sound conducted in the ear?
The ear has three main sections. In the outer ear, the sound waves are still moving in air. In the middle ear, the sound waves are being conducted by three small bones. In the inner ear, the waves are moving through the fluid-filled cochlea. The sense organ that picks up sound waves from the surrounding air and turns them into nerve impulses which can be sent to the brain. The signals in these waves of bouncing air molecules into electrical nerve signals, while keeping as much of the information in the signal as possible.
B. Why are the cells responsible for hearing called mechanoreceptors?
Cells responsible for hearing are called mechanoreceptors because they are hair cells that receive sense stimulus through feeling.
Exercise 9: Balance
Observations:
Was the subject able to walk a straight line?
Yes.
What does this tell you about their balance centers in the brain?
They are good and have to do with sight.
Describe your observations with the subject facing you, eyes open.
I observed No wobbling at all.
Describe your observations with the subject facing you with eyes closed.
Observed Slight swaying.
Describe the observations with the subject turned to side and eyes open.
Slight swaying.
Describe the observations with the subject turned to the side and eyes closed.
The subject turned to the side and eyes closed, started moving towards the direction they were facing.
Describe the observations with subject’s foot off the floor, eyes open.
Balance was maintained.
Describe the observations with the subject’s foot off the floor, eyes closed.
The subject’s foot off the floor, eyes closed had to put hand out for balance after 30 seconds or so.
Questions:
A. Where is balance processed in the brain?
The Cerebellum
B. What can be concluded about the effect of vision on balance?
Vision plays a direct and important role in stabilizing balance by means of providing the nervous system with continually updated information regarding the position as well as movements of body segments in relation to each other and the environment.
C. What is the function of the otolithic membrane?
The otolithic membrane is a gelatinous membrane is located in the vestibular apparatus of the inner ear, and it plays an essential role in the brain's interpretation of equilibrium.
Conclusions:
What do sensory and reflex tests tell about the functions of the nervous system as a whole?
The central nerves system receives sensory information from other parts of the body or the body's external environment and it transmits motor information to other parts of the body by way of the peripheral nervous system. Cranial nerve function is commonly assessed as part of a general physical examination of the head, eyes, ears, nose, throat, and neck. The tests provide a frame for how well our nervous system is taking in, processing, and also dispensing information to and from the Central Nerves System through the Peripheral Nervous
System.