Sense Organs (Cambridge (CIE) O Level Biology): Revision Note

Lára Marie McIvor

Last updated

Sense Organs as Receptors

  • Receptors are groups of specialised cells

  • They detect a change in the environment and stimulate electrical impulses in response

  • Sense organs contain groups of receptors that respond to specific stimuli

Sense Organ

What it is sensitive to

Sense

Skin

Heat and cold, pressure, pain 

Touch (pressure) and temperature

Tongue

Chemicals in food and drink

Taste

Nose

Chemicals in the air

Smell

Ear

Sounds and movement

Hearing and balance

Eye

Light

Sight

  • Once the receptor cell in the sense organ has been stimulated, it generates an electrical impulse

  • This is passed on to a sensory neurone which carries the impulse to the central nervous system

  • Here a response will be decided on and the impulse will be passed to a motor neurone (via a relay neurone)

  • The motor neurone carries the impulse to the effector (muscle or gland)

  • The effector carries out the response

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Lára Marie McIvor

Author: Lára Marie McIvor

Expertise: Biology Lead

Lára graduated from Oxford University in Biological Sciences and has now been a science tutor working in the UK for several years. Lára has a particular interest in the area of infectious disease and epidemiology, and enjoys creating original educational materials that develop confidence and facilitate learning.