Due to sensitivity, a person has the opportunity to know the surrounding and inner world. Sensitivity is the ability of the body to respond and distinguish between external and internal stimuli. This function is performed thanks to a bunch of receptors - the brain, which are connected due to the nerve branching across all the surfaces of our body.
The receptor reacts and sends information to the brain. At the time of receipt of the information, we know that the water is hot, the food is hot, the sugar is sweet. All of the above examples relate to exteroceptive sensations.
What is exteroceptive sensitivity?
Exteroceptive sensitivity is the ability of the body to sense something that affects our outer receptors. That is, it is surface sensitivity, which works at the expense of the receptors of the skin and mucous membranes.
"Exter" - translated from Latin means "outdoor". But since any sensation evokes a reaction, one can speak not only of exteroceptive sensations, but also of reflexes.
There are five main reflexes associated with external sensitivity:
- corneal reflex - is investigated by touching cotton wool on the cornea of the eye, which should entail the closing of the eyelids;
- conjunctival reflex - they touch the conjunctiva with a cotton flagellum, which causes a reaction similar to that of the corneal reflex;
- pharyngeal reflex - with a spatula touch the wall of the pharynx, there should be an emetic contraction or coughing;
- soft palate with a spatula touching
a soft sky, because of what it should rise; - anal reflex - the skin is punctured near the anus, the circular muscle should contract.
Sometimes these reflexes may be absent in perfectly healthy people.
The sensations themselves also have their own classification:
- remote - the receptors react to a stimulus located at a distance ( sight , hearing);
- contact - receptors react with direct contact with the stimulus (taste, touch);
- sense of smell - is an intermediate sensation.