Sensory nervous system

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Sensory nervous system

The sensory nervous system is a part of the nervous system responsible for processing sensory information. It is a component of the peripheral nervous system (PNS) and consists of sensory neurons (also known as afferent neurons) and neural pathways that lead to the central nervous system (CNS). The sensory nervous system is essential for detecting and responding to various stimuli from the environment, such as touch, temperature, pain, and sound.

Structure

The sensory nervous system is composed of several key components:

• Sensory receptors: Specialized cells or cell structures that detect specific types of stimuli. Examples include mechanoreceptors for touch, thermoreceptors for temperature, nociceptors for pain, and photoreceptors for light.
• Sensory neurons: Neurons that transmit sensory information from the receptors to the CNS. These neurons have long dendrites that extend to the sensory receptors and axons that project to the CNS.
• Sensory pathways: Neural pathways that carry sensory information from the sensory neurons to the CNS. These pathways often involve multiple synapses and relay stations within the spinal cord and brain.

Function

The primary function of the sensory nervous system is to detect and transmit sensory information to the CNS, where it can be processed and interpreted. This process involves several steps:

1. Detection: Sensory receptors detect specific stimuli from the environment. 2. Transduction: The detected stimuli are converted into electrical signals (nerve impulses) by the sensory receptors. 3. Transmission: The electrical signals are transmitted by sensory neurons to the CNS. 4. Processing: The CNS processes and interprets the sensory information, leading to an appropriate response.

Types of Sensory Information

The sensory nervous system is responsible for processing various types of sensory information, including:

• Somatosensory system: Processes information related to touch, pressure, temperature, and pain.
• Visual system: Processes information related to vision.
• Auditory system: Processes information related to hearing.
• Olfactory system: Processes information related to smell.
• Gustatory system: Processes information related to taste.
• Vestibular system: Processes information related to balance and spatial orientation.

Clinical Significance

Disorders of the sensory nervous system can lead to various sensory deficits and conditions. Some common disorders include:

• Neuropathy: Damage to sensory neurons, often resulting in pain, numbness, or tingling.
• Sensory processing disorder: Difficulty in processing sensory information, leading to inappropriate responses to sensory stimuli.
• Phantom limb pain: Pain perceived in a limb that has been amputated, due to the brain's continued processing of sensory information from the missing limb.

See Also

• Nervous system
• Peripheral nervous system
• Central nervous system
• Sensory receptor
• Neuron
• Somatosensory system
• Visual system
• Auditory system
• Olfactory system
• Gustatory system
• Vestibular system