Ch. 7.7 Special Senses
What is the aqueous humor?
A clear, watery fluid that fills the space between the cornea and iris. It helps maintain the forward curvature of the eyeball and refracts light rays.
What is the conjuctiva?
A mucous membrane that lines the eyelids and covers the front of the eye to provide additional protection and lubrication.
What is the lens?
A circular structure located behind the pupil. It refracts (bends) light rays so they focus on the retina.
What is the refracts?
Bends light rays. Structures like the cornea, lens, aqueous humor, and vitreous humor refract light.
What is the vestibule?
The first section of the inner ear, which acts as the entrance to the cochlea and semicircular canals.
What is the auditory canal?
Also called the external auditory meatus, this is the canal or tube that sound waves travel through after entering the pinna. It contains special glands that produce cerumen (wax) to protect the ear
What is the cornea?
The circular, transparent part of the front of the sclera that allows light rays to enter the eye.
What is the organ of corti?
The receptor of sound waves, located in the cochlea. It is composed of delicate, hairlike cells and transmits impulses from sound waves to the auditory nerve.
What is the retina?
The innermost layer of the eye, made of many layers of nerve cells (including rods and cones) that transmit light impulses to the optic nerve.
What is the vitreous humor?
The jellylike substance that fills the area behind the lens. It helps maintain the shape of the eyeball and also refracts light rays.
What is the auricle?
The visible part of the ear, also called the pinnaaIt is made of elastic cartilage covered by skin and leads to the auditory canal.
What is the eustachian tube?
The tube that connects the middle ear to the pharynx (throat). It allows air to enter the middle ear and helps equalize air pressure on both sides of the eardrum.
What is the ossicles?
Three small bones in the middle ear: the malleus, the incus, and the stapes. They are connected and transmit sound waves from the eardrum to the inner ear.
What is the sclera?
The outermost layer of the eye; it is the tough, "white" connective tissue that maintains the shape of the eye.
What is the choroid coat?
The middle layer of the eye, which contains many blood vessels that nourish the eyes.
What is the iris?
The colored portion of the eye, located behind the cornea. It contains two muscles that control the size of the pupil to regulate the amount of light entering the eye.
What is the pinna?
The visible part of the ear, also called the auricle.
What is the semicircular canals?
Structures in the inner ear that contain liquid and hairlike cells. Impulses sent from these canals to the cerebellum help maintain balance and equilibrium.
What is the cochlea?
A structure in the inner ear shaped like a snail's shell. It contains the organ of Corti, which is the receptor for sound waves.
What is the lacrimal glands?
Glands located in the eye that produce tears, which constantly moisten and cleanse the eye.
What is the pupil?
The opening in the center of the iris.
What is the tympanic membrane?
The eardrum. It separates the outer ear from the middle ear and vibrates when sound waves hit it, transmitting those waves to the middle ear.