HLTC22H3 Chapter 7: Chapter 7 Textbook Notes
9 Dec 2010
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Document Summary
In order for the organs to function properly, they must recognize changes in both the external and internal environment and be able to communicate with each other to maintain homeostasis, avert dangers, and manage growth. The regulatory systems that manage this communication are the sensory, nervous, endocrine, and immune systems. The sensory system is composed of five senses: touch, smell, taste, hearing, and vision. Sensory organs allow the nervous system to gain information about the external environment. The skin is the sense organ for touch. There are age-related changes in both touch receptors and pressure receptors. With age, these receptors decrease both in number and in sensitivity, resulting in degradation of the send of touch, with decreased ability to detect, locate or identify objects. Impaired ability to manipulate small objects is also developed. Modest changes in the sense of smell occur with age, averaging at about only a 10% decline.
