What properties are the receptors: features of the structure, species and functions

Today we will talk about the properties of receptors, the varieties and structure of analyzers. Without receptors, our life would be completely impossible. Imagine what our life would look like without hearing, sight, smell, touch, taste.

The first and main function of analyzers is protection. Without hearing, we could not hear any warning signals (car signal, emergency announcements on the radio and so on); Without sight, they would be completely immersed in darkness, they would not know how beautiful our world is; The sense of smell is also able to protect us from danger (for example, with a gas leak); Touch tells us about possible damages that can harm the body; Taste buds allow us to distinguish between sweet and salty or sour. Now let's talk a little about the sensations and turn to the question of what properties receptors have.

Feel

In total, there are several types of sensations :

• Sensations of the skin;
• A sense of taste;
• Sense of smell;
• Visual sensations;
• Auditory sensations;
• Position in space;
• Sensation of movement;
• Organic.

It is also important to note that the first type refers to:

• Touching;
• pressure;
• touch;
• Sensation of temperature;
• pain.

To the 6th and 7th group are both static and kinetic. By the 8th kind we will refer to such types of sensations:

• hunger;
• thirst;
• Sensations of internal organs and so on.

Before we denote the properties of the receptors, we will analyze their varieties.

Kinds of receptors

Now we suggest you bring the classification according to some criteria. When asked what properties receptors have, biology (grade 8) should give an answer to schoolchildren. We will note the properties and functions in the next section, and now the classification according to the perception of the stimulus:

• Mechanoreceptors;
• Chemoreceptors;
• Thermoreceptors;
• Photoreceptors;
• Nociceptors.

We have already cited another classification, it is based on the point of view of psychophysiology. Recall that the receptors are divided into groups:

• Visual;
• Auditory;
• Flavoring;
• Olfactory;
• Tactile, or tactile.

Functions and properties of receptors

In this section, we will look at the kinds, functions of the receptors and properties. So, among the properties we can distinguish:

• specificity;
• sensitivity.

Now a little more about each of them. Specificity means that the receptor perceives only one kind of stimulus. That is, the receptors are monomodal, but this is not always the case, because most of them are able to perceive other irritations, only the sensitivity to them is much less.

So we smoothly approached the second property - sensitivity. It can be measured, this indicator has the name - the absolute threshold of sensitivity. Here it is also important to note that receptors can be divided by the rate of adaptation into:

• Tonic;
• Intermediate;
• Phase.

Receptor functions:

• Signaling;
• The transformation of physical energy into a nerve impulse;
• Initial analysis of the received irritation.

Types and structure of analyzers

What properties receptors have, we briefly considered. We propose to proceed to the types and structure of analyzers.

To begin with, we introduce the very concept of an "analyzer". These are complex systems of neural formations that allow analyzing incoming signals from outside. They can be classified according to different criteria, we will categorize them according to their purpose. So analyzers are divided into:

• External;
• Internal;
• Body position;
• Painful.

In the structure of the analyzer, three departments can be distinguished:

• peripheral;
• Conductor;
• central.

The first department includes receptors, the second - a chain of neurons, the third - 2 types of neurons, which analyze information.

Vision

We have found out what are the common properties of the receptors. Now a little about the visual center. If to be extremely short, then the visual analyzer consists of the following structures:

• Optical;
• Auxiliary;
• Neural.

All this helps to perceive and analyze light signals. Speaking about a person separately, due to the fact that the eyes are on the same line, it is possible to determine some parameters:

• depth;
• Volume;
• Distance and so on.

This suggests that the person's vision is binocular.

Hearing

So what are the properties of receptors? Remember: sensitivity and specificity. Regarding the auditory receptors, nothing has changed. We can only hear with our ears. This again confirms that the receptors are specific, but do not perceive all sounds. This suggests that the auditory receptors have the property of sensitivity.

The human hearing aid can not perceive ultrasound and infrasound. Why? Infrasound has a wave range of less than 20 Hz, and ultrasound - over 20 KHz, which is outside the sensitive threshold of human auditory receptors.

Touch

The general physiology of reception considered by us extends to tactile receptors. Throughout our body there is a very large number of tactile receptors. It is thanks to them that we can distinguish between cold and hot, wet from dry. It is also important to know that all receptors are different, that is, some are responsible for temperature, others are for pain sensations and so on.

Smell

Say a few words about smelling. The nose is just necessary for a man, thanks to his nose, we smell, taste food and so on. The nose protects us from many dangers, which in some cases are fatal to humans. Smell can affect the emotions and mood of a person. Remember, for certain you have a favorite smell from childhood (it can be fresh milk, the smell of baking or mother's perfume).

If we consider the animal world, then this is also a way to avoid some problems (animals mark their territory, a less strong male will never step on the territory of a stronger one).

Vestibular apparatus

Not everyone knows that there are special receptors in the human body that allow us to determine our position in space. If they were not there, then there would not be a sense of being upside down (for example, on rides, while performing acrobatic tricks, etc.), we would fall flat, suffer eternal dizziness and so on.

This device is rather complicated. If there are violations in his work, then the person will have very hard times, up to the point that he can not simply navigate in space.

Taste

And in conclusion - a little about what role in our life is occupied by taste sensations. First of all, the taste buds allow us to distinguish the taste of food.

All people are able to taste the taste characteristics, as the structure of the language is identical for all, and the taste buds are located on its surface. They have the name - taste buds. In our language, there are a lot of them, but each of them is responsible for one shade of taste.