Functions of the five senses?

Question

Give the functions of the eyes, nose, ears, tongue & skin...(3 each)?

Answer 1

This may take awhile:

Eyes:

See, interpret color, depth perception, interpret sensory input and new information

Ears: Hear sound, balance with equilibrium regulate pressure of sinus and adjusting with change in pressure

Nose : Used to smell scent, smell is the strongest link to memory, it is processed by the olfactory system in your brain, used to interpret the different smells.

Tongue:

In general used to taste, used to differentiate between taste due to tastebuds all sectioned on their own on the tongue surface. Also senses whether food is hot or could. also helps in the swallowing procedure as it forms and moves the bolus (the shape food takes before swallowed.

Skin,

Protection: an anatomical barrier from pathogens and damage between the internal and external environment in bodily defense; Langerhans cells in the skin are part of the adaptive immune system.

Sensation: contains a variety of nerve endings that react to heat and cold, touch, pressure, vibration, and tissue injury; see somatosensory system and haptics.

Heat regulation: the skin contains a blood supply far greater than its requirements which allows precise control of energy loss by radiation, convection and conduction. Dilated blood vessels increase perfusion and heat loss while constricted vessels greatly reduce cutaneous blood flow and conserve heat. Erector pili muscles are significant in animals.

Control of evaporation: the skin provides a relatively dry and impermeable barrier to fluid loss. Loss of this function contributes to the massive fluid loss in burns.

Aesthetics and communication: others see our skin and can assess our mood, physical state and attractiveness.

Storage and synthesis: acts as a storage center for lipids and water, as well as a means of synthesis of vitamin D by action of UV on certain parts of the skin.

Excretion: sweat contains urea, however its concentration is 1/130th that of urine, hence excretion by sweating is at most a secondary function to temperature regulation.

Absorption: Oxygen, nitrogen and carbon dioxide can diffuse into the epidermis in small amounts, some animals using their skin for their sole respiration organ. In addition, medicine can be administered through the skin, by ointments or by means of adhesive patch, such as the nicotine patch or iontophoresis. The skin is an important site of transport in many other organisms.

Water resistance: The skin acts as a water resistant barrier so essential nutrients aren't washed out of the body.