NURSING CARE RELATED TO THE SENSORY AND
NEUROLOGICAL SYSTEMS
1-1
Section I. INTRODUCTION TO THE SPECIAL SENSES
1-1. THE SPECIAL SENSES
a. The human body is continuously bombarded by all kinds of stimuli. Some of these stimuli are received by sensory receptors distributed throughout the entire body. Other stimuli are received by highly complex receptor organs. These are referred to as the special senses.
b. From each special sense organ, information is sent to the brain through specific cranial nerves. When the information reaches the specific area of the brain's cerebral cortex, it is perceived at the conscious level as sight, sound, smell, taste, and balance. These special senses allow us to detect changes in our environment, providing information necessary for homeostasis.
c. The Special Senses are:
(1) Sight.
(a) The receptor organ is the eye.
(b) The stimulus is light rays.
(2) Hearing.
(a) The receptor organ is the ear (cochlea).
(b) The stimulus is sound waves.
(3) Smell.
(a) The receptor organ is the nose (olfactory hair cells).
(b) The stimulus is airborne molecules.
(4) Taste.
(a) The receptor organs are the taste buds in the mouth.
(b) The stimulus is fluid-borne molecules.
(5) Balance (equilibrium).
(a) The receptor organ is the ear (membranous labyrinth).
(b) The stimulus is gravitational forces.
