Kinesthetic, STATIC and Organic Sensation

Kinesthetic Sense (Kinesthesis) Comes from the Greek words : “kinesis” – motion “aisthesis” – perception It is a sense that informs you about the position and motion of parts of the body.

It is activated due to kinesthetic receptors called Proprioceptors. In kinesthesis, the sensory information is fed back to the brain from sensory organs in the joints, tendons and muscles. Any movement of these affect the kinesthetic receptors. This also called “muscle sense” It is a bodily movement independent of sight due to receptors and coordination of muscles, tendons and joints.

Kinesthetic sense Kinesthetic sensation goes along with “alertness” You were able to bring your finger close to your nose easily by employing your kinesthetic sense. When you make a muscle in your arm, the sensations of tightness and hardness are also provided by kinesthesis.

However, this could be affected by a disease called tabes dorsalis. Tabes dorsalis – destruction of various tracts thru which impulses from kinesthetic receptors pass to the brain. When these tracts are damaged at any level, all kinesthetic sensitivity below that level is destroyed.

STATIC SENSATION These are some of the things your vestibular / STATIC sense offers you.  The three main things that our vestibular senses recognize are: our static position   our velocity (and direction) our acceleration (and direction) Detecting these types of balance or position details are the functions of the two remaining regions of the inner ear:  the vestibule and the semicircular canals.

Static Position & Our Vestibule    The vestibule contains two sensory areas:  the utricle and the saccule.  These two areas both contain endolymph and hair cells.  They also both contain inorganic crystals (of calcium carbonate-- a white, chalky-ish material found in shellfish shells).   The crystals are like tiny grains of sand that roll around within these areas on the tops of the hair cells.  As they roll, they deflect the cilia on the hair cells, causing a receptor potential.

Why do we say that the vestibule reports about static position     Why do we say that the vestibule reports about static position?  When you make your movement, the crystals roll.  Once you stop moving, the crystals stop rolling.  So, our vestibule tells us when we change and informs us of our new position.  Once we are in an established position, the crystals are not rolling around any more, so the vestibule isn't reporting anything.  Therefore, the vestibule tells us what position we have gotten into, and then tells us if that overall position has changed.  While we maintain a position, it doesn't report anything, letting us know that we are still holding that static position.  

Dynamic Position Changes & Our Semicircular Canals     We have three semicircular canals, the horizontal semicircular canal, the anterior semicircular canal, the posterior semicircular canal.  These three semicircular canals enable an accurate, three-dimensional report of our dynamic position information to our brain.

How do the semicircular canals allow for dynamic position detection     How do the semicircular canals allow for dynamic position detection?  Whenever we change the speed with which we are moving, we deflect the cupula within the crista ampullaris.  Every slight change in cupula deflection is picked up by our hair cells.   So we can tell any time we change our movement.  But our semicircular canals tell us nothing about our static position, since the cupula remains straight if no movement forces the endolymph into action.  At least with the vestibules, the otoliths end up somewhere in particular that depends on your position.

Pierre Flourens, a French anatomist, discovered the vestibular system Pierre Flourens, a French anatomist, discovered the vestibular system. He believed it was part of the auditory system. He was disappointed in 1824 when he removed the vestibular system in pigeons and found their hearing unaffected. However, the birds showed other peculiar reactions. They could no longer maintain normal head and body position.

Organic Sensation Sense of Internal Bodily Movement Sensations resulting from the sensitivity of the visceral and other internal organs of the body. Visceral Organs: Stomach Intestines Internal sex structures Throat Lungs Heart

Organic Sensation It is stimulated by Interoreceptors. When the sensory fibers of these organs are activated as a result of the activities of these organs, nerve impulses are sent to the brain giving rise to organic sensation.

It is closely related to biological drives and emotions. Such as: Thirst Bladder & Bowel Tensions Suffocation Hunger Sexual cravings Feeling of fullness Nausea Thrills

Is love an organic sensation? Romantic Love: Researchers at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine have determined, according to CNN, that “... when you fall in love, the ventral tegmental [a part of the brain] floods the caudate [another part of the brain] with dopamine. The caudate then sends signals for more dopamine. The more dopamine you get, the more of a high you feel. When you fall in love.  That is to say, love is the sensation of dopamine in your caudate. Like every other organic process, love fluctuates. Like every other organic process, it changes over time. Like every other organic process, it is either growing or deteriorating. Like every other organic process, it is stronger in some people and weaker in others. Like every other organic process, it is well formed in some people and malformed in others.