Five Senses: Glossary

A

auditory nerve

the nerve that takes sound from the ear to the brain

B

Braille

a system of writing for use by the blind

C

cartilage

a flexible tissue of the body such as the nose or ear is made of

cochlea

a spiral shaped part of the inner ear

concentration

a large collection or close

cones

the part of the retina which sees color

E

eyeball

the organ of the body which sees

I

inner ear

the part of the ear where sound vibrations are sent to the brain

L

lens

the portion of the eye that bends light to focus images on the retina

M

membrane

a body tissue

molecules

a small particle of material

mucous membranes

a body tissue that lines air passages and is in contact with air

N

nerve endings

the part of the nerve that has the sensory receptors

O

olfactory

organs of the nose that perceive smell

optic nerve

the nerve that takes messages from the eye to the brain

organs

a part of a living organism that has a specific job

outer ear

the part of the ear that captures sound and sends it to the inner ear

P

papillae

small bumps on the tongue that sense taste

perceive

identify, recognize

peripheral

side vision - around the edges or side

R

receptors

special cells that respond to input of the senses

retina

the back portion of the eye on which images are sensed

rods

the part of the eye which senses dark and light

S

sensitivity

the ability to react to senses

T

temperature

a measure of warmth or coldness

translates

to put in understandable terms

tympanic membrane

also called the eardrum

V

vibrations

the rhythmic movement of a material