SPECIAL SENSES

Presented by Group 5
 Objectives

1. To know the Anatomy and Physiology

of the Eye and its structures

2. To know the parts of the Ear

 Objectives
To know the Chemical Senses:
3.
Smell and Taste

To know the developmental

4. aspects of the Special Senes
 Introduction
We are usually told that we have
five senses that keep us in touch
with what is going on in the
external world: touch, taste, smell,
sight, and hearing.
The other four "traditional"
senses—smell, taste, sight,
and hearing—are called
special senses.
Now, why are they
called as special
senses?
THE EYE AND
THE VISION
Error of Refraction
There are 4 common
types of refractive errors:
myopia, hyperopia,
astigmatism, & presbyopia
Myopia
Nearsightedness It occurs when the
(myopia) is a common shape of the eye—or
vision condition in which the shape of certain
near objects appear clear, parts of the eye—
but objects farther away causes light rays to
look blurry. bend (refract)
inaccurately.
Hyperopia
Hyperopia, or Hyperopia occurs due
farsightedness, is a vision to the shape of the eye
condition in which distant and its components; it
objects are usually seen is not just a function of
more clearly than close the aging of the lens,
ones. which occurs with
presbyopia.
Astigmatism
is a common It happens when your cornea
eye problem (the clear front layer of your
that can make eye) or lens (an inner part of
your vision your eye that helps the eye
blurry or focus) has a different shape
distorted. than normal.
Presbyopia
It happens because the lens
is a refractive
(an inner part of the eye that
error that makes
helps the eye focus) stops
it hard for middle-
focusing light correctly on
aged and older the retina (a light-sensitive
adults to see layer of tissue at the back of
things up close. the eye).
Presbyopia
Just as in hyperopia,
presbyopia can be
treated with the use
of simple eyeglasses
with convex lenses
ANATOMY OF
THE EYE
Eye
The organ of sight
It helps the person
visualize objects
It is a sphere that
measures about 1 inch
(2.5cm)
 INTERNAL
STRUCTURE
OF THE EYE
Lens
It is a transparent, biconvex, lens of an eye.

The lens is attached to the ciliary body by

ligaments.

The lens along with the cornea refracts

light so that it focuses on the retina.
Retina
It is the innermost layer of the eye.
It is light sensitive and acts as a film of a
camera.
Three layers of neural cells are present in them,
they are ganglion, bipolar and photoreceptor
cells.
It converts the image into electrical nerve
impulses for the visual perception by the brain.
Optic nerve
It is located at the posterior portion of the
eyes.

The optic nerves carry all the nerve

impulses from the retina to the human
brain for perception.
Aqueous Humour
It is a watery fluid present between
the cornea and the lens.

It nourishes the eye and keeps it

inflated.
Vitreous Humour
it is a transparent, jelly-like substance
present between the lens and the retina.

It contains water (99%), collage, proteins, etc.

The main function of vitreous humour is to

protect the eyes and maintain its spherical
shape.
 ACCESSORY
STRUCTURES
OF THE EYE
 How does your eye work?
All the parts of the eye function together thus enabling us to see.

The light enters the eye through the pupil

The iris controls how much light in the pupil will let it
When light hit the retina a special cell called photoreceptors
turn the light into electricalsignal
The electrical signals travel from the retina through the optic
nerve to the brain
Then the brain turns the signals into images that the person see
The Ear: The
Hearing and
Balance
Ear
Are paired organs,
located on each side
of the head that helps
with hearing and
balance
External Ear
Auricle or Pinna - It collects sound waves and
channels them into the ear canal.

External Acoustic Meatus or Ear Canal - Is a

pathway running from the outer ear to the
middle ear
Middle Ear
Tympanic Membrane or Eardrum - is a thin,
cone-shaped membrane that separates the
external ear from the middle ear
Tympanic Cavity - is an air-filled compartment
surrounded by bone that is separated from the
external ear by a thin tympanic membrane and is
in direct communication with the pharynx via the
auditory tube.
 Function of the Protects your middle ear
Eardrum is Auditory from dirt, bacteria and
and Protective debris.
Middle Ear
Auditory tube or Eustachian tube - hollow
structure that extends from the middle ear to
the pharynx (throat), function is to equalize air
pressure between the atmosphere and the
middle ear
Functions:
- Is to equalize air pressure between the atmosphere and
the middle ear
Middle Ear
Auditory Ossicles
1. Malleus or Hammer - a hammer-shaped small
bone or ossicle of the middle ear which
connects with the incus and is attached to the
inner surface of the eardrum. Is the largest
ossicle in the ear and its main function is to
relay the vibrations of the incoming sound
waves produced by the eardrum to the incus.
Middle Ear
Auditory Ossicles

2. Incus or Anvil - is the middle of three

small bones in the middle ear. Transmits
vibrations from the malleus to the stapes.
Middle Ear
Auditory Ossicles

3. Stapes or Stirrup - a small stirrup-shaped

bone in the middle ear, transmitting
vibrations from the incus to the inner ear.
Inner Ear
Cochlea - a fluid-filled snail-like structure that
contains the organ of corti. Plays a key role in
the sense of hearing and participates in the
process of auditory transduction.
Vestibule - sits between and connects the cochlea
and semicircular canals and helps to maintain
equilibrium
Air and Bone Conduction

Air conduction uses the apparatus of the ear

(pinna, ear canal, tympanic membrane, and
ossicles) to amplify and direct the sound.

Bone conduction allows the vibration sound to

be transmitted to the inner ear.
Chemical Senses:
Smell and Taste
Tongue
a fleshy, muscular Function:
organ in the mouth of - facilitating the
a mammal, used for movement of food
tasting, licking, during mastication
swallowing, and and assisting
articulating speech swallowing
Frenulum
a fold of mucous
membrane found
underneath the
tongue
Function:
- help secure the tooth in the mouth
and regulate tongue movements
Taste buds
any of the clusters of bulbous
nerve endings on the tongue
and in the lining of the mouth
which provide the sense of taste

Function:
- it sends messages to the brain about how
something tastes (sweet, sour, bitter or salty)
- 10,000 taste buds (repaired every 2 weeks)
Papillae
are little bumps
on the top of
the tongue
Function:
- help grip food while
the teeth are
chewing
Types of Pipallae
Filiform (filum - thread like): It is like a conical in
shape, which works as a coating for the tongue. It
lacks taste buds

Fungiform (mushroom like): It is of the shape of a

mushroom, which comprises taste buds, and
therefore performs an essential function in the
perception of taste.
Types of Pipallae
Circumvallate: They are primarily sensitive to
bitter taste, and take part in the gag reflex.

Foliate papillae: are located bilaterally along the

posterolateral margins of the tongue surface and
it perceive taste.
Olfactory Receptors
receptors for the sense of smell and
are located in the superior part of the
nasal cavity Sniffing causes more air
to flow across the olfactory receptors
which intensifies the sense of smell
Developmental
Aspects of the
Special Senses
Special sense organs are formed early in
embryonic development.

The eyes begin to develop by the fourth week

Maternal infections during the first five or six
weeks of pregnancy may cause visual
abnormalities as well as deafness in the
developing child.

An infant is farsighted and lacks color vision

and depth perception at birth.
The eye continues to grow and mature until the
eighth or ninth year of life but the lens grows
throughout life.
The newborn infant can hear sounds, but initial
responses are reflexive.
By the toddler stage, the child is listening
critically, begins to imitate sounds, and
language development begins.
Taste and smell are sharp at birth and
decrease in sensitivity after the age of 40.