Summary
Sight, hearing, taste, smell and touch detect stimuli and send information to the brain.
In depth
Receptors transduce stimuli: photoreceptors (eye), mechanoreceptors (touch, hearing), chemoreceptors (taste, smell), thermoreceptors and nociceptors. Different receptors are labelled lines to specific brain areas.
Sensory adaptation reduces responses to constant stimuli. Perception is shaped by the brain. Sensory loss affects daily life.
Example: referred pain arises because visceral and skin nerves converge in the spinal cord.
Sensory receptors convert stimuli into electrical signals (transduction), and the signal is coded by which neurons fire, how often and how many. Adaptation reduces response to constant stimuli. Vision uses rods (dim light) and cones (colour), hearing uses hair cells in the cochlea, balance uses semicircular canals and otoliths, taste has five basic qualities (sweet, salty, sour, bitter, umami), and smell uses about 400 types of receptors. Skin has receptors for touch, pressure, vibration, temperature and pain.
Proprioception senses body position, and interoception senses internal state. Perception is constructed by the brain: illusions show that it is not a perfect copy of reality. Sensory loss, such as deafness or blindness, can lead to brain reorganisation.
Frequently asked questions
What is Senses?
Sight, hearing, taste, smell and touch detect stimuli and send information to the brain.
Which area of biology covers Senses, and how advanced is it?
Senses is one of the 51 topics in Human Physiology. It is rated Beginner, so it suits learners who are starting out in biology. Related topics in this area include Skin, Sleep Physiology, Tissues and Organs.
Why does Senses matter?
Our experience is limited to what our receptors can detect, unlike other animals which sense magnetic fields or UV.
Can you give an example of Senses?
Touch receptors are densest at the fingertips.
What should I learn before Senses?
Senses is a Beginner topic, so no earlier topic is required. Other Beginner topics in Human Physiology that pair well with it include Homeostasis, Tissues and Organs, Skeletal System.
What topics are related to Senses?
The closest topics to Senses are Skin, Sleep Physiology, Tissues and Organs, Homeostasis. Comparing them side by side is a good way to see how the ideas connect.
How can I check that I understand Senses?
Read the summary and the in-depth section, then use the quick check on the interactive lesson for Senses. To practise the whole of Human Physiology, use the Human Physiology quiz.
How is Senses different from Skin?
Senses: Sight, hearing, taste, smell and touch detect stimuli and send information to the brain. Skin: The largest organ, forming a waterproof barrier that protects, senses and regulates temperature. Read both side by side and note what each one explains.
How should I study Senses step by step?
First, read the summary and write the definition in your own words. Second, read the in-depth section and note any example. Third, compare it with Skin and explain the difference aloud. Finally, take the Human Physiology quiz and come back to this page for any question you miss.