Identify major structures and functions of the sensory system.

Identification should include the roles of the eyes, ears, and special senses as follows:

• The eyes function in sight.
• The ears function in hearing.
• The nose functions in smell.
• The skin functions in feeling pain, heat, cold, and pressure.
• The taste buds function in detecting sweet, salty, sour, and bitter taste sensations.

Refer to Units VII and X in Nurse Aide Curriculum Links to an external site., Virginia Board of Nursing, Virginia Department of Health Professions, 2018.

Process/Skill Questions:

• How do eyeglasses correct common vision problems?
• What is colorblindness? How is it caused?
• How many smells can the nose detect?
• How can the sense of smell be a defense mechanism for the body?
• How are taste and smell interconnected?
• Where are the receptors for hearing located?
• What precautions can be taken in young adulthood to reduce vision problems in later life? To reduce hearing loss over time?