Question

5. Do all sensory receptors adapt? Why would this be beneficial? (Expt 3) 6. How did the sensation change as more of the hand was placed into very warm water? Why? (Expt 4)

Answer 1

5. Do all sensory receptors adapt? Why would this be beneficial?

No, not all but some sensory receptors adapt. Adaption is useful to detect potentially harmful or beneficial changes in the environment.

6. How did the sensation change as more of the hand was placed into very warm water? Why?

When you placed hand into very warm water hand result in change in skin temperature. The sensory system involved in perceiving the changes in skin temperature begins with free nerve endings found in the dermal and epidermal layers of skin thermo-receptors. When the temperature of the skin is between 30-36 °C, which is the normal range for skin temperature, receptors are spontaneously active, but there is generally no awareness of cold or warmth. This is called the neutral thermal region; at higher there is an enduring sensation of warmth. The skin also contains thermally sensitive receptors leading to pain sensation known as thermal nociceptors that respond to noxious or harmful temperatures. Nociceptors that are responsive to temperature signal to the central nervous system that tissue damage is imminent and that the affected body part should be withdrawn immediately from the thermal source.