Special Senses Research Paper

The special senses are hearing, equilibrium, vision, taste, and smell. Hearing is associated with the ear and how the sound waves travel through from external to internal ear. The external layer of the ear consists of the auricle, external acoustic meatus, and the tympanic membrane. Sound enters through the auricle, which carries the sound waves to the external acoustic meatus (i.e. ear canal). The external acoustic meatus in turn carries the sound waves to the tympanic membrane (i.e. eardrum). After the sound waves have traveled through the external ear, they extent to the middle ear, which consists of three bones (i.e. malleus, incus, stapes). Sound waves then reach the inner ear from the stapes bone of the middle ear. The inner ear includes …show more content…
There is static equilibrium (i.e. head movement) and dynamic equilibrium (i.e. body movement). Vestibular hair cells found in the internal ear aid equilibrium, as well as, the semicircular canal and vestibule. Vision is associated with the eyes and the conversion of light into images. Light travels through the outer layer to inner layer and to the occipital lobe. The outer layer of the eye includes the sclera and cornea. As light passes through the cornea, it enters the middle layer. The middle layer consists of choroid, ciliary body, iris, pupil, and lens, as well as, the anterior and posterior cavities. Light passes through the pupil in its way to the lens. As it passes through the lens, light passes through the anterior cavity filled with aqueous humor, through the lens, and through the posterior cavity filled with vitreous humor. Light then reaches the internal layer, which includes the retina. The occipital lobe is responsible for receiving and interpreting visual information. Taste is associated with taste buds. Taste buds are found on the papillae of the tongue (raised portions). The taste buds have taste receptors and gustatory hair cells which are stimulated by chemicals in the food being dissolved in