K12 - Communication

Introduction

Biological communication occurs at many levels, from one cell communication with its neighbour in a tissue (paracrine, to signals released into the blood from one cell to signal to another cell or tissue (endocrine or hormone signaling). The signalling that occurs in the brain, spinal cord and other nervous tissues involves electrical (action potentials) signaling.

This page will introduce development of signaling in our special sensory nervous systems: the eyes for vision and the ears for hearing. Both systems convert signals in one medium (light or sound) into an electrical signal that our brain can understand.

For the Teacher
This content is only as a brief introduction, designed for K12 students and does not cover all topics in the communication syllabus. More detailed information can be found on the listed linked pages. This website focusses on development issues rather that physiology and postnatal abnormalities.

Sound - Hearing

This cartoon shows the adult "ear" with the 3 main divisions (outer, middle, inner).

Outer ear directs sound waves into the ear canal.

Middle ear converts sound waves in to mechanical movements or vibrations.

Inner ear converts mechanical movements into electrical signals.

Light - Vision

This cartoon shows the eyeball (left), a cartoon of the retinal cell organisation (middle) and an actual slice of the human retina.

The Eye This is a cut through the eyeball showing the eye anatomy. The retina forms the inner lining of the most of the back part of the eye. The retina is the structure that converts light into electrical signals.

Retinal Cell Organization These are the names of the cells and neurones required to convert light into electrical signals. (detect, process and carry) Carry the signal to the brain - retinal ganglion cells (G, GCL) take the signals from the eye to the brain in the optic nerve. Process the signals from the light detectors - Müller cell M, amacrine cell A, bipolar cell B, horizontal cell H process the signals from rods and cones. Detect light - rod cells R and cone cells C, detect light and convert light into an electrical signal (action potential). Notice that light has to pass through all the other cell layers to the detection cell layer.

Glossary Links

Glossary: A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | Numbers | Symbols | Term Link

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Cite this page: Hill, M.A. (2024, April 18) Embryology K12 - Communication. Retrieved from https://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/embryology/index.php/K12_-_Communication

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© Dr Mark Hill 2024, UNSW Embryology ISBN: 978 0 7334 2609 4 - UNSW CRICOS Provider Code No. 00098G