Question

!!Questions are at the bottom!!

Please read the numbered line story below. Based upon your knowledge and understanding of anatomy and physiology as presented in this course, please provide comprehensive responses to each question presented.

1. In one terrifying second the lights in the expansive basement file room went dark.
2. The young file clerk was instantly disoriented—unable to even see her hand in front of her face.
3. She waited a few long seconds and she was finally able to make out the shadowy outlines of file cabinets.
4. She then became aware of strange noises around her.
5. Tried as she did, she was unable to discern the source of the noises or even what they were.
6. She decided that she had to find her way out of the shadowy basement.
7. Though she could not see her feet, she carefully put one foot in front of the other and began to walk,
8. Her arms outstretched to avoid bumping into the filing cabinets, she slowly worked her way through the maze of cabinets.
9. As she continued her dark odyssey, she suddenly stopped.
10. One of those unrecognizable noises sounded terribly familiar.
11. The sound of labored breathing, dragging chains, and a gait characterized by a terribly dragging foot on the cold concrete floor, a low moaning growl, menacingly whispering her name.
12. She is now outside in a thick forest.
13. Running as fast as she can the sounds of chains and moaning racing behind her.
14. Her heart is pounding, eyes wide, a heightened sense of terror begins to consume her but she continues to run.
15. Her legs begin to ache.
16. It is becoming harder and harder to keep up the pace.
17. The menacing sounds of chains and moaning is getting closer and closer.
18. Finally, she can run no more.
19. She falls to the ground.
20. As she is breathing heavily, gasping for air, the terrifying sounds of her pursuer get closer and closer.
21. She feels vibration of the ground decrease as the monster seems to move away from her.
22. She calms, she begins planning her next moves...but then the vibrations increase
23. She braces herself for the worst. And then…
24. her five year old son jumps onto the bed…”Mommy it’s time to get up!!”
25. Damn these nightmares

vvQUESTIONS HERE!!vv

1. Line 3 is demonstrative if an important characteristic of life. Please identify and provide an appropriate discussion of this important characteristic of life.

2. Lines number 4 and 5 are demonstrative of at least two critical functions if the nervous system. Please provide a brief discussion of these two functions.

3. Line 7 refers to the woman's ability to functionally move her limbs even though she could not see. Please discuss the neurological specialization that makes this possible.

Answer 1

1) Dark adaptation. Dark adaptation, or the ability of the eye to become more visually sensitive after remaining in darkness for a period of time, is delayed in older persons. One reason for this visual change is the smaller, miotic pupil, which limits the amount of light reaching the periphery of the retina.

2) a) *Phonemic awareness* is a subset of phonological awareness in which listeners are able to hear, identify and manipulate phonemes, the smallest mental units of sound that helps to differentiate units of meaning (morphemes).

b) *Sound localization* is a listener's ability to identify the location or origin of a detected sound in direction and distance.

The sound localization mechanisms of the mammalian auditory system have been extensively studied. The auditory system uses several cues for sound source localization, including time- and level-differences (or intensity-difference) between both ears, spectral information, timing analysis, correlation analysis, and pattern matching.

3) *Proprioception* also referred to as kinaesthesia (or kinesthesia), is the sense of self-movement and body position. It is sometimes described as the "sixth sense".

Proprioception is mediated by proprioceptors, mechanosensory neurons located within muscles, tendons, and joints.[5] There are multiple types of proprioceptors which are activated during distinct behaviors and encode distinct types of information: limb velocity and movement, load on a limb, and limb limits. Vertebrates and invertebrates have distinct but similar modes of encoding this information.

The central nervous system integrates proprioception and other sensory systems, such as vision and the vestibular system, to create an overall representation of body position, movement, and acceleration.