Special Sensory Organs

The Eyes, Ears, and Nose

Sensory Organ Overview

The Eye
Anatomy and Physiology of the Eye
Diseases Affecting the Eye and Treatment

The Ear
Anatomy and Physiology of the Ear
Diseases Affecting the Ear and Treatment

The Nose
Anatomy and Physiology of the Nose
Diseases Affecting the Nose and Treatment

The Sensory
Organs

The Eye
Anatomy and

The Eye
The visual sensory organ, an
irregular oval approx. 1 inch
in diameter.
Contributes approx. 75% of
information about our
surroundings
Contained in the orbit, a
bony socket of the skull
formed from parts of 7
bones: the frontal, sphenoid,
ethmoid, lacrimal, zygomatic
and maxillary bones.
http://www.emedicinehealth.com/anatomy_of_the_e

Diagram of the Orbit

www.studyblue.com

The Eye:

Three Principle Layers

Sclera: the outermost layer of the eye

The white of the eye
Composed of dense fibrous connective tissue,
Encases the entire eye and gives the eye its form by molding the
vitreous cavity, a large area of gel like fluid in the eye
Exposed surface covered by thin, non-keratinized stratified
squamous epithelium
Extraocular muscles attach to the sclera: allow the eye to look in
different directions

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/anatomy_of_the_eye/page5_em.htm http://www.siumed.edu/~dking2/ssb/eye.htm

The Eye:

Three Principle Layers

Choroid: medial layer found deep to the sclera

Composed of heavily pigmented loose connective tissue,
including melanocytes
Continuous with the iris of the eye (when considered
together called the uvea)
The pupil is a hole in the choroid layer which allows light to
pass through
Assists in nourishing the retina

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/anatomy_of_the_eye/page5_em.htm http://www.siumed.edu/~dking2/ssb/eye.htm

The Eye:

Three Principle Layers

Retina: innermost layer; deep to the choroid layer

Two portions: the photoreceptive neural retina and the
pigmented epithelium
Neural retina is composed of image processing tissue.
Pigmented epithelium is found behind the neural retina and
also lines the hidden slide of the iris
The retina houses many photoreceptors called rods and
cones, structures which are sensitive to different kinds of
light and facilitate different states of vision

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/anatomy_of_the_eye/page5_em.htm http://www.siumed.edu/~dking2/ssb/eye.htm

The Eye

Structures

Composed of several component structures similar to a camera

The cornea is a transparent layer located directly in front of the
iris which helps to focus light entering the eye. A fluid filled
space behind the cornea helps nourish the cornea and lens.
The iris is the colored part of the eye and controls the amount of
light that enters the eye. It is composed of a ring-shaped tissue
with a central opening called the pupil, which expands and
constricts to regulate light passage.

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/anatomy_of_the_eye/page5_em.htm http://www.siumed.edu/~dking2/ssb/eye.htm

The Eye

Structures

Composed of several component structures similar to a

camera

The lens is a clear, flexible structure just behind the pupil.

It is connected to muscular tissue called a ciliary body
which helps with fine-focusing light passage into the eye.
The lens and cornea together focus light in just the right
amounts onto the retina.

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/anatomy_of_the_eye/page5_em.htm http://www.siumed.edu/~dking2/ssb/eye.htm

The Eye

Supporting Structures

The eye is also supported by several structures:

Lacrimal glands lubricate the eye, produces tears
Eyelids and eyelashes protect against overexposure to debris and
light
Conjunctiva:
Thin transparent layer covering the front of the eye (including inside of
eyelids)
Protects against bacteria and foreign matter
Contains visible blood vessels over the white sclera

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/anatomy_of_the_eye/page5_em.htm http://www.siumed.edu/~dking2/ssb/eye.htm

The Eye

Mechanism of Sight

Light enters the eye and is focused by the iris and pupil,
cornea, and lens.
The light is focused on the retina, directly on the rods
and cones at the back of the eye.
The pigments in the rods and cones converts specific
frequencies of light to electric impulses and delivers
them to the optic nerve.
The optic nerve delivers the signals to the occipital lobe
of the brain, where they are interpreted into visual
messages.
http://www.emedicinehealth.com/anatomy_of_the_eye/page5_em.htm http://www.siumed.edu/~dking2/ssb/eye.htm

The Sensory
Organs

The Eye
Disease and

There are many diseases and injuries

which affect the eye.
Hereditary diseases such as colorblindness
occur when a person is genetically
predisposed to have only two of the three
essential pigments which interpret color in
the retina.
Glaucoma is a progressively degenerative
diseases that affects the optic nerve by
increasing pressure in the eye.
Cataracts are a disease which steadily
degrades vision by clouding the lens on the
eye.
Treatments can range from adaptive
therapy for people with colorblindness and

The Sensory
Organs

The Ear
Anatomy and

The Ear
The auditory sensory
organ, a complex structure
which converts sound
stimuli to electrical
impulse.
A multi-structure system
located on either side of
the head in humans.

https://www.wisc-online.com/learn/natural-science/life-science/ap1502/anatomy-of-the-ea

The Ear:
Sections

Three Principle

The ear has three principal parts

Outer ear consists of the pinna, external auditory canal
Middle ear or tympanic cavity consists of the eardrum,
auditory ossicles, and Eustachian tube.
Inner ear consists of areas called windows, the cochlea, and
semicircular canals.

https://www.wisc-online.com/learn/natural-science/life-science/ap1502/anatomy-of-the-ea

The Ear:
Sections

Three Principle

The pinna is the part of the ear we see and helps to collect
sound vibrations
The external auditory canal is an inch long passageway which
amplifies sound and connects to the eardrum; protects against
foreign bodies and desiccation
The eardrum or tympanic membrane is a thin, gray fibrous
membrane which vibrates and reproduces frequency and form
of sound waves

https://www.wisc-online.com/learn/natural-science/life-science/ap1502/anatomy-of-the-ea

The Ear:
Sections

Three Principle

The auditory ossicles are the Malleus, Incus, and Stapes, small bones
which deliver sound vibrations to inner ear and amplify sound waves
The Eustachian tube is a short tube which connects the middle ear
to the nasal cavity and equalizes pressure around the eardrum.
The cochlea is a spiral shaped cavity filled with fluid that converts
stimulus from the auditory ossicles to nerve impulses.
Semicircular canals perceive sense of balance and position. Do not
function in hearing.

https://www.wisc-online.com/learn/natural-science/life-science/ap1502/anatomy-of-the-ea

The Ear

Mechanism of Hearing

A sound wave is funneled by the pinna into the external

auditory canal, where it is amplified and delivered to
the tympanic membrane.
The eardrum resonates when the sound wave contacts
it, reproducing the sound waves form and frequency.
The resonance causes the auditory ossicle complex to
interact with the cochlea.
Hairs in the cochlea cause electrical impulses to be sent
to the brain, where they are interpreted into auditory
messages.

https://www.wisc-online.com/learn/natural-science/life-science/ap1502/anatomy-of-the-ea

Instructional Video The Mechanism of Hearing

The Sensory
Organs

The Ear
Disease and

There are also many diseases which affect the ear, both hereditary and non-hereditary.
The ear can be severely affected by infection, which can occur when the Eustachian tube is obstructed.
Exposure to high-frequency or high-amplitude sound waves can rupture the eardrum, leading to temporary
or permanent loss of hearing.
Hereditary deafness is caused by a variety of factors including deformed or absent internal ear components
or damage to the auditory nerve.
Most infections can be treated with antibiotics, and there are minor surgeries to repair the ear structures.
Efforts to teach alternative modes of communication and to design hearing aids provide relief from
deafness.

http://www.affoto.com/eardisease.html

The Sensory
Organs

The Nose
Anatomy and

The Nose
The olfactory sensory
organ, a bony articulation
supported by bone,
muscle, and cartilage, and
the accompanying
olfactory area within the
skull.
Relies on associative
reactions to interpret
chemical stimuli in the
environment.
http://www.emedicinehealth.com/anatomy_of_the_e

The Nose:

Anatomy

The nose is supported by bone, cartilage, and muscle.

Two nostrils are ciliated passageways that allow for respiration

The nasal cavity is a large hollow space behind the nose; divided into
right and left sections by the nasal septum
Nasal conchae divide the nasal cavity into superior, medial, and inferior
meatuses
The structures of the throat and the sinuses are connected to the nasal
cavity
The mucus membrane lining the nasal cavity is composed of
pseudostratified ciliated epithelium.
Rich in mucous-secreting goblet cells.

Hole. Essentials of Human Anatomy and Physiology. 11e. 2007. McGraw-Hill. Pr

The Nose:

Mechanism of

Smell
Upper posterior of the nasal cavity contains olfactory receptors that
provide for sense of smell
Chemoreceptors sensitive to chemicals dissolved in liquid.
Close to 12 millions receptors in nasal cavity

Airborne scent chemicals called odorants are absorbed into the nose
where they are partially dissolved in nasal solutions.
The dissolved odorants interact by binding to an olfactory receptor,
where the reaction causes an electrical impulse to be sent to the brain.
Signals travel to the limbic system and can affect memory and
emotion.
The signals are processed by the temporal lobe region as well as base
of frontal lobes.

Hole. Essentials of Human Anatomy and Physiology. 11e. 2007. McGraw-Hill. Pr

The Sensory
Organs

The Nose
Disease and

Diseases affecting the nose range from infections which cause disruption in the noses
ability to perceive smell to conditions where the chemoreceptors in the roof of the nasal
cavity sustain permanent damage.
The nose is affected by allergic reactions which can disrupt its function, and the nasal
membrane is fragile and is susceptible to damage from abrasion and chemical/smoke
exposure.
Hereditary deformities or the nose, or damage sustained during birth, such as a diverted
septum, can interfere with function.
Treatments for nasal conditions range as well, from antibiotics for infections to surgery to
correct deformities.