RN COMPREHENSIVE NURSING CARE – SPECIAL SENSES- SUMMARY 2023 [LAB PRACTICE]

RN COMPREHENSIVE NURSING CARE – SPECIAL SENSES- SUMMARY 2023 [LAB PRACTICE] THEME: Understanding anatomic structures of the body, their functions and malfunctions STUDY PERIOD TERM 2 HOURS THEORY HRS 22 SKILLS LAB HRS 22 TOPIC Special senses SUBTOPICS • Olfaction • Gustation • The eye and sight • The ear – hearing and balance BROAD OBJECTIVE At the end of this course the student should be able to demonstrate the systems basics as foundation to build on further knowledge STUDY QUESTIONS 1. About the sense of smell (olfaction): a) What is the location of the olfactory bulb? b) How is odour changed to action potential? c) Describe the pathway of the olfactory nerve and the areas of the brain involved in smell sensation. 2. About the sense of taste (gustation): a) Describe the anatomy of the tongue and organization of the taste buds. b) Describe the taste action potential generation. c) State the nerves that carry taste sensation, explain their pathway and the areas of the brain involved in interpretation of taste. 3. About the eye and sight: a) Outline the layers of the eye ball and their adaptation to function. b) Outline the chambers of the eye ball, their contents and function. c) About the physiology of sight: i) Explain the pathway of light from an object to the retina and what happens to it as it passes through the structures on its pathway. ii) How is a nerve impulse generated from light at the retina? iii) What is the pathway of the optic nerve? iv) Explain accommodation. v) How is colour detected? d) Highlight the extraocular muscles, their innervation and action. 4. About the ear, hearing and balance: a) Explain the structure and adaptation to function of the following parts of the ear: i) External ear ii) Middle ear iii) Inner ear b) Explain the physiology of hearing under the following: i) Air conduction ii) Bonny conduction iii) Fluid conduction iv) Action potential generation and pathway of the cochlear nerve. c) Explain the physiology of balance. 5. How are special senses different from general senses? 6. Define the following terms: a. keratin b. Sebum c. Cerumen d. Melanin e. Integument 7. Describe the skin as: a. A protective organ b. A thermo-regulator c. A sensory organ d. Excretory organ e. Metabolic function 8. Describe how the skin is structurally organised and how its structures are adapted to perform their functions? 9. What are the different types of sweat glands? 10. Describe metabolic function of the skin. 11. Describe the following physiologic processes that the skin carries out: a. Apoptosis b. Melanin distribution c. Wound healing 12. Outline the developmental aspect of the skin from embryonic to old age