How do we “feel” things around us? The Sensory System by VTCSOM

Touch is part of sensory system: it is mote than using our hands to feel things. Our skin helps us to recognized difference in temperature, vibrations, texture, pressure and pain. Why do we touch everything with our fingertips? It is not only because it is easy but it is due the presence of many “receptors” in our fingertips that are associated with large sensory areas in our brain. The cerebral cortex (external part of our brain) has a special area where the touch sensation is processed. Among the most sensitive “feelings” areas we have are the fingertips and the lips, so that means we can discriminate better sensations in these parts of our body.

In our exhibit, faculty and students from the medical school at VTCSOM, physician assistant students from Jefferson College of Health Sciences will show you some interesting aspects of the sensory system.

The Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine and Research Institute joins the basic science, life science, bioinformatics, and engineering strengths of Virginia Tech with the medical practice and medical education experience of Carilion Clinic. The school seats small class sizes of around 42 students each, fostering a rich educational experience. Unique focuses on four value domains - basic sciences, clinical sciences and skills, research, and interprofessionalism - develop physician thought leaders through inquiry, research, and discovery. Virginia Tech Carilion is located in a new biomedical health sciences campus in Roanoke, adjacent to Carilion Clinic and near Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital.