In this course, we will study the sensory system that enables us and various animals to navigate our environment, identify dangers, assess the quality of our food, and essentially allows the brain to receive the information necessary for survival.

We will explore the morphology, anatomy, and physiology of different sensory organs. Additionally, we will learn and understand how the brain processes the information captured by these organs.

We will delve into the fascinating world of vision, examining the anatomical structure of various eye components and their functions. We will address intriguing questions such as: What allows us to see colors? What enables us to see at night? Furthermore, we will compare the mechanism for regulating light entry in humans to that of nocturnal animals and those living in sun-drenched areas with intense radiation. We will explore the role of eyelids and how this function is performed in animals without eyelids. We will discuss the clinical and physical examinations that can be conducted to diagnose the integrity of anatomical structures in the eye and vision itself. Additionally, we will learn about procedures that can be performed to correct such issues when detected.

We will explore the brain's interpretation mechanism for information received from the eye and discover together instances where the brain misleads us or misinterprets what we see, providing examples from the realm of optical illusions.

The course will cover the anatomy and physiology of the ear and its various roles in hearing and balance (vestibular and cochlear systems). We will compare the structure of the pinna in humans and different animals. We will study sound waves and their components (frequencies, vibrations, wavelengths), discuss hearing ranges in various animals and humans, and examine changes in these ranges throughout life, investigating which frequencies only children can hear but adults cannot. We will explore additional uses of sound waves, such as echolocation, and learn about the remarkable bell experiment that led to the discovery of this phenomenon and the levels of precision achievable with it. We will discuss how the brain interprets information received from the ears and how it can determine the source and nature of a sound based on intensity and subtle differences between our ears.

We will study the unique morphology, anatomy, and physiology of the nose and the olfactory system. We will delve into the importance of this system and the survival needs it serves. We will compare olfactory receptors in humans and various animals, and discuss the resulting different perceptions of the environment. For example, when we look at the sidewalk we're walking on, we see it as it is now, but a dog can detect who walked on it, how long ago, and more. We will discuss communication between animals using the sense of smell. Additionally, we will learn about various ways in which we utilize animals' sense of smell for our needs, addressing security applications (such as detecting explosives, drugs, etc.) and health-related uses (such as dogs' ability to detect certain types of cancer in humans). If time permits, we will also explore issues in the nose and upper respiratory tract resulting from the domestication process of certain animals.

Eating is undoubtedly one of life's pleasures and one of our most basic needs. We will discuss the structure of the tongue, types of glands and taste receptors, the tastes we can sense, and the sensing area on the tongue for each. We will explore why spiciness is not a true taste and which animals are resistant to certain spicy substances. We will learn about the enzyme amylase in salivary glands and how it can change the taste perception of certain foods in our mouth. We will delve into the connection between the sense of taste and smell and examine the mechanism of the gag reflex, addressing intriguing questions such as the differences between reflex and conscious response, what vomiting protects us from, in which situations we would want to induce and encourage vomiting, and how to address the issue in animals that cannot vomit when there is a need to empty stomach contents (e.g., in cases of poisoning or colic caused by various reasons).

Touch is a special sense and is found on the largest organ in our body – the skin. Our skin is covered with various receptors for different types of sensation: thermal sensation, pain, touch, etc. We will learn about each of these and their unique mode of operation. We will discuss the role of hair on the skin and how it aids sensation in different animals and various body parts (body, face, and more). We will explore the resolution of sensation and the differences between various body locations, and how this is represented in the brain's homunculus.

We will examine the sensory mechanism behind the phenomenon of "phantom pain" and address the question – why do people continue to feel pain in an amputated limb that no longer exists? We will also discuss various treatment approaches for this condition.

* The course material will be tailored to the age of the learners.