SENSE ORGANS

Sense organs are highly specialized organs and are controlled by central nervous system. Sense
organs are also called receptors. The sense organs are the organs of special senses which are
made up of sensory cells. The receptors respond to external as well as internal stimulation,
before environmental information can be transmitted to brain. Sensation is the conscious or
unconscious awareness of external or internal stimuli.
TYPES OF SENSORY RECEPTORS
No. Receptors Functions
1. Chemoreceptor Taste and smell.
2. Mechanoreceptor Proprioceptors in joints, receptors for hearing.
3. Nociceptors Pain receptors.
4. Thermo receptors Heat and cold.
5. Photoreceptors Vision.
SPECIAL SENSORY ORGANS
These are highly specialized organs of our body which are concerned with the special
sensation.
 Eye:-Sight (seen) (Photoreceptors).
 Ear:-Hearing and Equilibrium (Phonoreceptors (Organ of corti).
 Nose:-Smell (Olfactoreceptors).
 Tongue:-Taste (Gustatoreceptors).
 Skin:-Feeling for touch, pain, pressure and temperature.
Receptors of vision, hearing and smell receive stimuli from distance; hence, these are called
Teloreceptors.
EYE
Eye is a photosensitive organ and also called organ of sight. It is lying in the orbit of skull, and
is supplied by the optic nerve ( II cranial nerve) .Eye is a hollow spherical in shape, measures
about 2.5cm diameter.
STRUCTURE OF EYE
There are three layers of tissue in the wall of the eye:
 Outer fibrous layer: - Formed of sclera and cornea.
 Middle vascular layer: - Formed of choroid, ciliary body and iris.
 Inner nervous layer: - Formed of retina.
Outer layer
1. Sclera: - The sclera is the white opaque, fibrous, protective, outer layer of the eye
containing collagen fiber. It is also known as the white of the eye. The sclera covers 5/6 of
the eye ball posteriorly. The sclera is protective in nature and maintains definite shape of
eye.
2. Cornea:- The cornea is composed of transparent membrane of epithelial tissue. It covers 1/6
parts of eye anteriorly. It has no blood supply, but it is richly supplied by sensory nerves.
Cornea allows light to pass into lens.
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 Middle layer
It is vascular layer consisting of the choroid, ciliary body and iris.
1. Choroid:-The choroid is also known as the choroidea or choroid coat. It is a thin pigmented
vascular layer of eye, containing connective tissue, and lying between the retina and the
sclera.
Functions:-
 The choroid provides oxygen and nourishment to the outer layers of the retina. Along with
the ciliary body and iris, the choroid forms the uveal tract.
 Light enters the eye through the pupil, stimulates the sensory receptors in the retina and is
then absorbed by the choroid.
2. Ciliary body:- The ciliary body is a thin vascular middle layer of the eye that is situated
between the sclera and the retina. It possesses two sets of ciliary muscles and suspensory
ligament.
Functions:-
 To change the shape of lens due to contraction and relaxation of ciliary muscle.
 It is attached to the lens and holds it in position.
 Ciliary body is also the production of the aqueous humor, which is responsible for
providing most of the nutrients for the lens and the cornea and involved in waste
management of these areas.
3. Iris:- It is the coloured structure and forms the anterior most part of middle layer. It is a thin
circular diaphragm, placed in front of the lens. It has a circular opening in the center called
pupil. Iris is a muscular structure and has two muscles.
a. Constrictor papillae: - This is also known as sphincter muscle or sphincter pupillae, which
is formed by circular muscle fibers. Contraction of this muscle causes constriction of pupil.
b. Dilator pupillae: - This is also called papillary dilator muscle, which is formed by radial
muscle fibers. Contraction of this muscle causes dilatation of pupil.

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Inner layer
1. Retina:- The retina is the innermost neural and sensory layer of the eye ball. The retina is
composed of several layers of nerve cell bodies and pigmented layer of epithelial cells which
attached with the choroid. The light sensitive layer consists of sensory receptors cells called
rods and cones, which contain photosensitive pigments that convert light rays into nerve
impulses. The rods contain a pigment called visual purple or rhodopsin. They can respond to
dim light (Scotopic vision).The cons respond only to bright light (photopic vision) and are
sensitive to colour.

Lens:- Lens is the transparent biconcave structure. It is situated between iris and vitreous. It has
two surfaces, two poles and equator. The curvature of anterior surface is about 10mm, while
that of posterior surface is 6mm.It is suspended by suspensory ligaments to the ciliary body.
The lens matter is plastic in nature while lens capsule is elastic in nature.This quality helps the
lens to change its curvature in the act of accommodation. Anterior surface is fixed by
epithelium. There is no epithelium on posterior surface. Lens derived its nutrition from aqueous
humor.

ACCESSORY ORGANS OF THE EYE

The accessory structure is present around the eye, which helps in protection and proper
functioning of the eye. These include:
 Eyebrows
 Eyelids & eye lashes
 Lacrimal apparatus
 Conjunctiva
 Muscles of the eye
a. Eyebrows:- The numerous hair projects obliquely from the surface of the skin surrounding
the supra-orbital margins of the frontal bones known as eyebrows.
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Function:-It protects the anterior aspect of the eyeball from sweat, dust and other foreign
bodies.
b. Eyelids & eye lashes:-The eye lids are two movable muscular folds situated above and
below the front of the eye. The outgrowth of hairs in eye lids is called eye lashes.
Functions:
 It protects the eyeball from excessive light, foreign body and injuries.
 It spreads of tear film over cornea and conjunctiva.
 They keep the cornea clean and moist.
c. Lacrimal apparatus:-The structure concerned with secretion and drainage of the tear
known as lacrimal apparatus. The lacrimal apparatus is made up of the following parts:
 Lacrimal gland=1
 Lacrimal canaliculi=2
 Lacrimal sac=1
 Nasolacrimal duct=1
Lacrimal glands:-
Lacrimal glands are a serous gland situated in the orbit on the superior, lateral surface of the
eyeball .It consists of numerous ducts, the superior and inferior canaliculi, a lacrimal sac and a
nasolacrimal duct. The lacrimal gland secretes tear.
Tear
Tear is watery alkaline substance and composed of water 98.2% and non protein nitrogenous
substance, small amount of urea and lysozome.

Functions of tear:
 It cleans the eyes.
 It kills the pathogen.
 It keeps the conjunctiva moist.
 It provides nutrition to the conjunctiva.

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d. Conjunctiva:-Conjunctiva is a thin, transparent mucous membrane, which covers the
internal palpebral surfaces and folds on to the anterior sclera and cornea. The conjunctiva
helps to protect the eye ball and keeps it moist.
e. Muscles of the eye:- Eyeball is moved by six different types of eye muscles. They are:
Muscles Nerve supply Action
rd
Medial rectus muscle Oculomotor nerve (3 cranial nerve). Rotates the eyeball inwards.
Lateral rectus muscle Abducent nerve ( 6th cranial nerve). Rotates the eyeball outwards.
rd
Superior rectus muscle Oculomotor nerve ( 3 cranial nerve). Rotates the eyeball upwards.
Inferior rectus muscle Oculomotor nerve ( 3rd cranial nerve). Rotates the eyeball
downwards.
th
Superior oblique Trochlear nerve (4 cranial nerve). Rotates the eyeball
muscle. downwards and outwards.

Inferior oblique Oculomotor nerve ( 3rd cranial nerve) Rotates the eyeball upwards
muscle. and outwards.
VISUAL PATHWAY (PHYSIOLOGY OF VISION)
The retinal impulses are carried to visual canter in cerebral cortex by the nervous pathway
called visual pathway. It is also called as optic pathway.
Structure of visual pathway
The visual pathway consists of six components
 Optic nerve  Lateral geniculate body
 Optic chiasma  Optic radiation
 Optic tracts  Visual cortex

Retina

Optic nerve

Optic chiasma

Optic tract

Lateral geniculate body

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 Primary visual cortex present in calcarine area of occipital bone.
ACCOMMODATION OF EYE
Accommodation is the adjustment of the eye to see either near or distant objects clearly. It is
the process, by which light rays from near objects or distant objects are brought to a focus on
the sensitive part of the retina. This is achieved by various adjustments made in the eyeball.
BINOCULAR VISION
It is a type of vision in which both eyes are focused to see the same object at the same time.
The images from the two eyes are fused in the cerebrum. So, that only one image is perceived.
It provides better judgment over the distance, height and depth.
EAR
The ear has a double function of hearing and maintaining equilibrium of the body. The ear is
sensitive to frequencies of sound waves and changes in relation to gravity. It is also called
phonoreceptor organ. It is supplied by the 8th cranial nerve, i.e. the cochlear part of the
vestibulocochlear nerve which is stimulated by vibrations caused by sound waves.
STRUCTURE OF EAR
Ear is divided into three parts:
1. EXTERNAL EAR
It is the external part of ear. It is formed of two parts:
a. Auricle (Pinna) The Pinna is an external ear consists of fibro cartilage, covered by
connective tissue and skin. It consists of outer prominent ridge called helix. The lower inner
end of ear consists of lobule which is made up of elastic fibrous and adipose tissues.
B.Internal acoustic meatus (auditory canal):-The auditory canal is long tube like, slightly S-
shaped and about 3 cm long in adults. It is lined with skin and supported by fibro cartilage at its
opening and by the temporal bone for the rest of its length. It contains Ceruminous (wax gland)
and sebaceous glands. The wax gland is modified sweat gland secretes a waxy/oil substance
which prevents the foreign bodies entering the ear.
2. MIDDLE EAR
The middle ear consists of tympanic membrane and tympanic cavity with auditory ossicles.
a. Tympanic membrane:-Tympanic membrane is a thin, translucent, cone shaped structure
situated between external acoustic meatus and middle ear. It is oval in shape, measuring
about 9x10mm.It is covered by skin in its outer surface and by mucous membrane in its
inner surface. The central part of tympanic membrane is called umbo.
Function-It vibrates with the sound waves and conducts the sound to ossicles.
b. Tympanic cavity: - The tympanic cavity is also known as tympanum. It is a small, narrow,
laterally compressed chamber, situated within the temporal lobe. The tympanic cavity
connected to pharynx by a Eustachian or auditory tube. The Eustachian tube helps to keep
air pressure equal on both sides of tympanic membrane. The tympanic cavity is separated
from external auditory meatus by tympanic membrane. The tympanic cavity contains three
small bony ossicles called ear ossicles. The ossicles are:
 Malleus
 Incus
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  Stapes
3. INNER EAR
The inner ear consists of a maze of fluid-filled tubes, running through the temporal bone of the
skull. The bony tubes, the bony labyrinth, are filled with a fluid called perilymph. Within this
bony labyrinth is a second series of delicate cellular tubes, called the membranous labyrinth,
filled with the fluid called endolymph. This membranous labyrinth contains the actual hearing
cells, the hair cells of the organ of Corti. There are three major sections of the bony labyrinth:
1. The front portion is the snail-shaped known as cochlea, which functions in hearing.
2. The rear part is known as the semicircular canals. It helps to maintain balance.
3. Interconnecting the cochlea and the semicircular canals is known as vestibule, containing
the sense organs responsible for balance, the utricle and saccule.
The inner ear has two membrane, covered outlets into the air-filled middle ear known as the
oval window and the round window. The oval window sits immediately behind the stapes, the
third middle ear bone, and begins vibrating when "struck" by the stapes. This sets the fluid of
the inner ear sloshing back and forth. The round window serves as a pressure valve, bulging
outward as fluid pressure rises in the inner ear. Nerve impulses generated in the inner ear travel
along the vestibulocochlear nerve (cranial nerve VIII), which leads to the brain. This is actually
two nerves, somewhat joined together, the cochlear nerve for hearing and the vestibular nerve
for equilibrium.

ORGAN OF CORTI
The organ of Corti is the sensitive element in the inner ear and can be thought of as the body's
microphone. It is situated on the basilar membrane in one of the three compartments of the
Cochlea. It contains hair cells, Dieter’s cells (Basal cells), cells of Hensen (supporting cells)
etc. The sensory hairs project from the scala media and inner end of the cells of nerve fibers
which unite to form cochlear nerve. The tectorial membrane overhangs the sensory hair in the
scala media. It is stimulated by sound waves or nerve impulse of hearing starts from organ of
corti.

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 MECHANISM OF HEARING
 Sound waves in air are collected by pinna.
 The external auditory meatus directs these waves to the tympanic membrane which then
vibrates.
 The vibrations are transmitted by Malleus, incus and stapes to the membrane covering
fenestra ovalis.
 From the inner surface of this membrane, vibrations are transmitted to organ of corti
through perilymph and endolymph.
 From the organ of corti, the impulses (Produced by vibrations) are carried to brain stem
through cochlear portion of 8th cranial nerves.
 The fibers are then carried to auditory centre of brain which is present in the temporal lobe
of the opposite side.
Note:-the normal hearing range in man 20Hz – 20 KHz.
MECHANISM OF BALANCE
Movement of head or alteration in its position produces movement of endolymph present in the
semicircular canals. The movement of endolymph stimulates the nerve endings in ampullae.The
impulses are carried to brain through the vestibular portion of 8 th cranial nerve. These impulses
produce sensations which make us conscious about the position of the head. If the position of
head is disoriented, we can then adjust it so as to maintain balance and equilibrium.
TONGUE
Tongue is a voluntary muscular structure. It lies at the floor of mouth and base is attached to
hyoid bone. The superior surface of tongue consists of stratified squamous epithelium with
numerous papillae. These consists sense of taste.
There are three varieties of papillae:
 Vallate papillae: - These are largest papillae usually 8-10 in number. They are found on the
base of the tongue.
 Fungiform papillae: - These are situated mainly at the tip and edge of the tongue.
 Filiform papillae: - These are smallest and most numerous than other papillae. They are
situated at the side of the tongue.

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Note:- Tongue has four taste areas like sweet,salt,sour and bitter.Area of sweet and salt are
overlaped.Sour taste is located at sides whereas bitter taste is found in posterior middle region
of tongue.
Blood Supply of tongue-
Arterial supply:-Lingual branch of the external carotid artery.
Venous drainage: - It is done by lingual vein, a tributary of external jugular vein.
Nerve supply-
The nerves involved are:
 The hypoglossal nerves (12th cranial nerves), supply the voluntary muscle of tongue.
 The lingual branch of the mandibular branch of Trigiminal nerve supply anterior two-third
of tongue for ordinary (I.e.: Pain, touch, temperature) sensation.
 Anterior two-third of tongue for taste sensation supplied by cordatympani branch of facial
nerve (7thcranial nerves).
 Posterior one –third of tongue for both ordinary and taste sensation supplied by
glossopharyngeal nerves (9th cranial nerves).
 Very few basal portion of tongue supplied by vagus nerve (10th cranial nerves).

Functions of tongue:-
 It helps in swallowing and chewing of food.
 It plays a role in speech.
 It helps to find the taste.
 It acts as a brush to clean the teeth.

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 SENSATION OF TASTE (GUSTATION)/PHYSIOLOGY OF TASTE
The receptors for the sanitation of taste are taste buds. The taste buds are present at the sides
and base of the tongue. There are four different types of tastes which are felt at different areas
of tongue as follows:
 Sweet :- Front ( TIP).
 Bitter :- Back.
 Salt:- Front edge.
 Sour:- Back edge.
The sensory nerves originating from the taste buds are carried through facial nerve (7th cranial
nerve) and Glossopharyngeal nerves (9th cranial nerve). The impulses are carried to taste centre
in the medulla and from there to thalamus and then to motor cortex. The impulses are
interpreted in the cortex as sensation of taste.

NOSE
Nose is the first part of the respiratory tract, situated just above the mouth. Nose is the main
route of air entry, and consists of a large irregular cavity divided into two equal passages by a
septum.
Structure of nose
 The posterior bony part of septum is formed by the perpendicular plate of the ethmoid and
vomer bones.
 Anteriorly:-It consists of hyaline Cartilage.
 Roof: The roof is formed by the cribiform plate of the ethmoid, sphenoid, frontal and nasal
bones.
 Floor: The floor is formed by the roof of mouth and consists of the hard Palate in front
(composed of maxilla and palatine bones) and soft palate behind (consist of involuntary
muscles).
 Medial Wall: Formed by the septum.
 Lateral Wall: Formed by the maxilla, ethmoid and inferior conchae.
 Posterior Wall: Formed by the posterior wall of the pharynx.
Blood supply of nose
 The arterial supply of the nose is by branches of facial, ophthalmic and maxillary arteries.
 The venous drainage is by branches of ophthalmic and facial vein.
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Nerve supply of nose
The nerve supply is by branches of ophthalmic and maxillary nerves. The olfactory nerves start
from olfactory region.

Functions of nose
 Nose acts as a pathway or passage for air to enter into the body.
 Warming and Humidifying: - Highly vascularized mucus membrane that warms and
humidifies inspired air.
 Nose acts as an organ of smelling.
 It helps to produce resonance of sound.
SENSATION OF SMELL (OLFACTION)/PHYSIOLOGY OF SMELL
Nose is the organ of the sense of smell. The sensory nerves of smell are the olfactory nerves
(first cranial nerves).
The receptors for smell are olfactory rods. They are present in the mucous membrane of upper
part of nasal cavity. The ends of olfactory rods collect to form the olfactory nerve. This nerve
passes through the root of nose and ends in olfactory bulb. From the olfactory bulb, the
sensations are carried through olfactory tract to olfactory area in the temporal lobe of cerebral
cortex. The perception of smell occurs in this area.

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