PostLab

Ex 16, 18, 23
REFLEXES IN HUMANS
Exercise 16
A. EYE REFLEX
1. CORNEAL/CONJUNCTIVAL REFLEX
- contraction of the orbicularis oculi muscle
causes closure of the eyelid (blinking)

2. BLINK REFLEX
- blinking upon rapid passing of hand in front of
subjects face
3. PUPILLARY REFLEXES
a. Light or Photopupillary Reflex
bright light pupil is constricted
dim light pupil is dilated
b. Accomodation Reflex
Accommodation is the ability of the eyes to focus on
objects at different distances so as to produce
a clear vision
far dilated pupils
near normal sized or constricted pupils
c. Pupillary Skin Reflex
Dilation of the pupil upon pinching the cheeks

4. CONVERGENCE REFLEX
Reflexive movement of the eyes medially
when we view close objects

distant objects eyeballs parallel with
each other : no convergence of
eyeballs
near objects eyeballs come close to each
other at a point: there is convergence

B. STRETCH REFLEXES
1. Patellar reflex the appropriate response is
contraction of the quadriceps femoris which
results to a knee jerk or patellar reflex
2. Biceps reflex contraction of biceps and flexion
of the forearm
3. Triceps reflex - extension of the elbow
4. Ankle jerk flexion of the foot
5. Wrist reflex flexion of the wrist
6. Sneezing reflex - sneezing
7. Palmar reflex closing of the hand or flexion of
the fingers
8. Abdominal reflex drawing in of the abdominal
wall

9. Pharyngeal reflex induces vomiting
10. Plantar reflex - plantar flexion of the toes
11. Axon reflex reddening of the skin; production of a red flare
12. Babinskis reflex fanning out of toes with dorsal extension
of the big toe
13. Palatal reflex contraction of the palatal muscle
14. Epigastric reflex drawing in of the skin of the epigastrium
15. Cremasteric reflex elevation of the testes during stroking
16. Gluteal reflex contraction of the gluteal muscle which is
observed by the movement of the skin overlying the muscles

Answers to Questions
1. State and explain the phenomenon of
reciprocal inhibition
- stimulation of one muscle causes the
inhibition of antagonistic muscle
ex. When flexor reflex excites the biceps
muscle, it simultaneously inhibits the triceps
muscle
2. Explain why the axon reflex is considered as
the simplest type of reflex
- axon reflex is considered the simplest type
of reflex because it involves only a part of a
single sensory neuron

3. Describe the components of a reflex arc
- reflex arc: pathway taken by the impulse to
produce the reflex action
Modalities of Somatic Sensations
Exercise 18
Sensation
- conscious or subconscious awareness of
external or internal stimuli.
- Each type of sensation felt whether touch,
pressure, pain, temperature, body position,
etc. is sensory modality.

Sensory Receptor:
1. Exteroceptors stimulated by forces outside the
body
ex. somatic sensations temp, touch, pain
2. Proprioceptors stimulated by activities of the
muscles and articulations.
a. rate of contraction of muscles
b. location
c. rate of motion of legs, arms, fingers, and
other body parts
d. forces or pressure being exerted on the
body
3. Enteroceptors stimulated by substances or
conditions within the viscera


Receptors for the following senses:
a. Touch Meissners corpuscles, Merkels
disks, free nerve endings around a hair
follicle
b. Pressure VaterPacini corpuscles
c. Cold end-bulb of Krause
d. Heat corpuscles of Ruffini
e. Pain free nerve ending

Results and Observations:
A. Sensation of Pain
The individual can distinguish all 3 types of pain.
Adaptation is the lost of sensation due to frequent
stimulation.

B. Stereognosis
- Appreciation of the form of three dimensional objects by
palpation without the aid of vision.
- Determined by the somatosensory area in the cerebrum
of the brain

C. Pressure Sensation
Located on the deeper tissue; longer lasting; with less
intensity; has rapid adaptation


Physiology of Special Senses
Exercise 23
I. VISUAL TESTS
A. Visual Acuity Test
- test that measures the ability of the lens to
focus light reflected from an object to the retina

farsightedness hyperopia
neaarsightedness myopia
presbyopia difficulty to focus close objects
B. Demonstration of Blind Spot
Result:
Blind spot test figure (x or dot) disappears
when it is focussed on the blind spot which
lack photoreceptors


C. After Image
It is a sensation that tends to persists in the
consciousness after the cessation of stimulation.

There are 2 types:
1. positive after image appears in the same color as the
original stimulus
2. negative after image appears in color complementary
to the original stimulus

Results:
a. after image of bulb appears in same color as stimulus
positive after image
b. after image of colored objects appears in
complementary color negative after image

C. Test for Astigmatism
- caused by abnormal lens or corneal curvature which
causes part of the image to appear blurred

result:
a. there is no astigmatism if all the radiating lines
appear equally dark and distinct
b. there is some degree of astigmatism if some of the
lines are blurred and appear less dark than the
others.

II. HEARING
The ear transmits sound vibrations and their patterns,
intensities, and directions of origin to the temporal lobe of
the brain.

Sound waves have 2 major characteristics
1. frequency or wavelength which determines pitch
measured in cps
2. amplitude or intensity which determines loudness
measured in db


Types of hearing impairment:
1. conduction deafness
2. sensorineural deafness
3. central deafness
4. perceptive deafness


III. Taste
The tongue which is covered with papillae is the principal organ of
taste.
Taste buds which are located in the trenches of the papillae are
sensitive to substances dissolved in water.
Taste, like smell, is a result of the stimulation of sensory neurons by
chemical substance.

The 4 tastes are:
Salty stimulated by metallic ions
Sour - by hydrogen ions
Sweet - by a hydroxyl ion
Bitter - by alkaloids

Each type of taste bud is concentrated on different areas of the
tongue, with :
sweet at the tip
salty at the tip and anterior part
sour on the sides
bitter at the back

Results:
A.
1. NaCl salty at tip and anterior part of tongue
2. Acetic acid sour at the lateral side
3. sucrose sweet at the tip
4. quinine sulphate bitter at the posterior part or base of tongue

B. Solutions are perceived very rapidly, crystals are perceived after
several minutes due to longer dissolution time


IV. Smell
The sense of smell has 2 outstanding characteristics
1. has a high degree of adaptation
2. certain odors mask others

Masking is the ability of a high intensity odor to dominate and exclude
any other odors
The taste receptors are excited by chemical substances like food while
smell receptors by chemical substances in the air

Results:
oil of cloves masked the odor of the other 2 oils, namely, wintergreen
and peppermint