Introduction

If you are a student studying anatomy and physiology, you may have come across Chapter 8 which focuses on the special senses of the human body. As part of your coursework, you may have been given a worksheet on this chapter to complete. In this article, we will provide answers to the worksheet questions, along with a detailed explanation of the special senses.

The Special Senses

The special senses refer to the senses that are not generally shared by all animals, including hearing, sight, smell, taste, and touch. These senses are special because they require specialized organs in the body to function properly. The ear, eye, nose, tongue, and skin are responsible for the special senses.

Hearing

The ear is responsible for the sense of hearing. The outer ear collects sound waves and directs them into the ear canal. The middle ear contains three small bones called the ossicles that amplify the sound waves. The inner ear contains the cochlea, which has tiny hair cells that convert the sound waves into electrical signals that are sent to the brain.

Sight

The eye is responsible for the sense of sight. Light enters the eye through the cornea, which bends the light and directs it towards the lens. The lens then focuses the light onto the retina, which contains photoreceptor cells that convert the light into electrical signals that are sent to the brain.

Smell and Taste

The nose is responsible for the sense of smell, while the tongue is responsible for the sense of taste. Chemicals in the air are detected by olfactory receptor cells in the nose, which send signals to the brain. Taste buds on the tongue detect different tastes, such as sweet, sour, bitter, and salty.

Touch

The skin is responsible for the sense of touch. There are different types of touch receptors in the skin, including receptors for pressure, temperature, and pain. These receptors send signals to the brain, which interprets the sensation.

Worksheet Answers

Now that we have a basic understanding of the special senses, let\’s take a look at the answers to the worksheet questions. 1. What are the special senses? Answer: The special senses refer to the senses that are not generally shared by all animals, including hearing, sight, smell, taste, and touch. 2. What is the ear responsible for? Answer: The ear is responsible for the sense of hearing. 3. What are the three small bones in the middle ear called? Answer: The three small bones in the middle ear are called the ossicles. 4. What is the cochlea responsible for? Answer: The cochlea is responsible for converting sound waves into electrical signals that are sent to the brain. 5. What is the eye responsible for? Answer: The eye is responsible for the sense of sight. 6. What is the cornea? Answer: The cornea is the outermost layer of the eye that bends and directs light towards the lens. 7. What is the retina responsible for? Answer: The retina is responsible for converting light into electrical signals that are sent to the brain. 8. What is the nose responsible for? Answer: The nose is responsible for the sense of smell. 9. What are taste buds? Answer: Taste buds are clusters of cells on the tongue that detect different tastes. 10. What is the skin responsible for? Answer: The skin is responsible for the sense of touch.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the special senses are an important part of the human body that allow us to experience the world around us. Understanding the special senses and how they work can help us appreciate the complexity of the human body. We hope this article has provided you with a better understanding of Chapter 8 and the special senses worksheet answers.