Hands On Lab: Senses
Grading: Divide number incorrect by total number of questions (59)
Submission instructions
If an assignment is submitted incorrectly, you will be contacted and the assignment will not be graded unless resubmitted properly. Late penalties may apply.
Type your answers and copy all pictures directly into this Word document. Submit it via the blackboard submission link in Word format (docx).
· Answers typed into a blank document or submitted in the incorrect format will not be accepted.
· Pictures will not be accepted as stand-alone files.
· Assignments may not be submitted via email without express permission from the instructor.
Introduction
Senses are how we connect to the world. There are five special senses: vision, hearing, olfaction (smell), gustation (taste), and equilibrium (balance). In addition to that, there are tactile sensors in the skin and many internal senses that you are unaware of (such as those for blood pressure or blood sugar).
Activity 1: Two-Point Discrimination
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Different parts of your skin have different numbers of nerves running to them, which effects level of sensation. Close your eyes or have someone close theirs. Use the compass to touch the person’s skin with the compass in the areas indicated in the chart.
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Materials
· Compass (drafting, not navigational= see picture)
· Ruler
Start with the compass as close together as it will go and progressively get wider with each touch until the person can detect 2 points instead of one; then use the ruler to measure the distance and record it in the chart. Do this for each area.
Skin Area For Testing
Minimum Distance for 2-Point Discrimination in Millimeters (mm)
Forehead
Cheek
Palm of Hand
Tip of Index Finger
Forearm
Tip of Thumb
Back of Lower Leg
Back of Neck
Questions
1. Are the two-point distances on different areas of the skin the same? Why or why not do you think this is? If they are not the same, which area was the most sensitive and which area was the least sensitive?
2. Which skin areas do you think have more receptors, areas that have small two point distances or large two-point distances? Why?
3. Which brain area do you think is larger, one receiving information from skin with lots of receptors or from skin with a few receptors? Why?
4. What are the different types of tactile receptors in our skin and what sensation(s) does each detect?
5. Which tactile receptor is most involved with 2-point discrimination?
Activity 2: Olfaction
Identify the various structures, tissues, and cells within the nasal cavity. Each letter will only be used once.
6. Olfactory bulb
7. Olfactory tract
8. Connective layer
9. Cribriform plate
10. Supporting cell
11. Olfactory neuron
12. Olfactory cilia
13. Basal cell
14. Olfactory nerve
15. Nasal cavity
16. Axon
17. Olfactory epithelium
18. Mucous layer
Activity 3: Does Smell Effect Taste?
Have you ever noticed how a cold affects your appetite? In this experiment, we will test how well you can guess flavors when you cannot see or smell the samples you are tasting. You will need one volunteer and of course, yourself.
Materials
· Five different types of fruit juice (or alternate flavored liquids)
· 10 small drinking cups
· Marking pen
Procedure
Both you and the volunteer should complete both parts of the experiment. One group member can manage the experiment, while the other sips the solutions and then switch roles.
Part 1:
1. Sit with your eyes and nose closed (use nose clips or pinch off your nostrils).
2. Your lab partner should hand you each sample one at a time in random order.
3. Taste each sample with your nose and eyes closed.
4. After you have tasted the sample, try to identify the flavor.
5. Your partner should record your accuracy (flavor correct/incorrect) and your confidence levels, ranging from 1 (no idea of flavor) to 10 (certain of flavor).
Part 2:
6. Release your nostrils but still keep your eyes closed and repeat the experiment, again recording results.
Part 3:
7. Switch places with your partner and repeat the experiment.
Subject 1
Sample Flavor
Nose Closed Accuracy (correct/incorrect)
Nose Closed
Confidence (1-10)
Nose Open Accuracy (correct/incorrect)
Nose Open Confidence (1-10)
1
2
3
4
5
Subject 2
Sample Flavor
Nose Closed Accuracy (correct/incorrect)
Nose Closed
Confidence (1-10)
Nose Open Accuracy (correct/incorrect)
Nose Open Confidence (1-10)
1
2
3
4
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Questions
19. What are the five primary tastes?
20. What type of receptor by stimulus classification are taste buds?
21. Where are the taste buds located?
22. Which cranial nerves sends smell signals and what structure(s) does each innervate?
23. Which cranial nerves sends taste signals and what structure(s) does each innervate?
24. Did your subjects correctly identify the flavors during the first session (nose closed)? How confident were they? Did their confidence and accuracy correspond, were they wrong when they thought they were correct, or correct when they thought they were wrong?
25. Did your subjects correctly identify the flavors during the second session (nose open)? How confident were they? Did their confidence and accuracy correspond, were they wrong when they thought they were correct, or correct when they thought they were wrong?
Activity 4: Parts of the Eye
Identify the various structures, tissues, and cells within the eye. Each letter will only be used once.
26. Sclera
27. Ciliary body
28. Optic nerve
29. Suspensory ligaments
30. Lens
31. Choroid
32. Pupil
33. Vitreous chamber
34. Anterior chamber
35. Retina
36. Cornea
37. Iris
38. Conjunctiva
Activity 5: Retinal Histology
Identify the various layers and cells within the retina. Each letter will only be used once.
39. Bipolar layer
40. Cone
41. Ganglia layer
42. Choroid
43. Pigmented layer
44. Rod
45. Photoreceptor layer
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Activity 6: Parts of the Ear
Identify the various structures, tissues, and cells of the ear. Each letter will only be used once.
46. Auditory ossicles
47. Cochlea
48. Auricle
49. Malleus
50. External auditory canal
51. Incus
52. Semicircular canals
53. Vestibulocochlear nerve
54. Vestibule
55. Round Window
56. Oval window
57. Auditory (Eustachian) tube
58. Stapes
59. Tympanic membrane