Psychology Case

THE SENSES

Hilgard morgan and Sartain explain that there are more than eight senses that we use to explore and learn about the world.Each of these senses has a specific sense organ within which are receptor cells or receiving mechanisms that are sensitive to certain stimuli in the environment.

The Eye

Is the organ of vision, is sometimes compared to a camera lens because it works roughly the same way as the latter which focuses images of objects at various distances o the film as it moves toward or away from the place of the film.

The lens of the eye focuses light images on a sensitive surface.This surface in the eye is the retina,which is composed of rods and cones.

Rods which are cylindrical and number about 100 million,do not distinguish colors but are more sensitive to light than are the cones.

Cones which are conical in shape and more than six million in number,allow us to see the different wave lengths of light as different hues or colors.

Hilgard presents the process of seeing,light enters the eye through the cornea,a tough transparent membrane.The amount of light entering the eye is regulated by the diameter of the pupil,a small hole in front of the eye formed by the iris.The iris consists of a ring of muscles that can contract or expand,thereby controlling pupil size.

The Ear

Is the sense organ of hearing which is sensitive to sound waves,the mechanical vibrations in the air.

There are three parts of the ear:The outer ear,Midle ear and the inner ear.The two main sensations in hearing are those of pitch and loudness.Sounds pounds on the eardrum which moves the three bones of the middle ear.the last of the three bones,the stirrup,vibrates the surface of the inner ear,which transmits the mechanical force of the fluid inside.

The outer ear consists of pinna,the protruding part of the ear which catches sound waves.these sound waves pass through the tubular auditory canal that leading to the eardrum.

The inner side of the eardrum is the cavity housing the bony transmitter of the middle ear the hammer the anvil and the stirrup.

The hammer is attached firmly to the eardrum and the stirrup to another membrane,the oval window.

The oval window conducts the sound waves to the cochlea,the auditory portion of the inner ear.

Because the oval window is much smaller than the eardrum,small movements at the eardrum are condensed into a magnified pressure at the ear window,which sets into motion the fluid inside the cochlea.

The Tongue

Is the sense of taste or gustatory sense is excited by substances in solution in the mouth.The taste receptors are found in the taste buds,on the edges