SOMATESTHETIC Meaning and
Definition
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Somatesthetic, also known as somesthetic or somatosensory, refers to the sensory input related to the perception of bodily sensations, particularly touch, temperature, pain, and movement. Derived from the Greek words "soma," meaning body, and "aisthēsis," meaning perception, it encompasses the collective cognitive processes that allow individuals to experience and interpret physical sensations.
The somatesthetic system involves specialized receptors distributed throughout the body, especially in the skin, muscles, and joints, that detect stimuli such as pressure, texture, vibration, heat, and cold. These sensory receptors transmit signals through nerves to the brain, where the information is processed and interpreted.
The somatesthetic system plays a crucial role in the human ability to discern tactile qualities, discriminate between different types of touch, and perceive the environment. It contributes to body awareness, proprioception (the sense of body position and movement), and nociception (the perception of pain). Additionally, it enables individuals to perceive temperature changes and variations in pressure, allowing them to react appropriately to potential dangers or other external stimuli.
Sensory information from the somatesthetic system is integrated with other modalities, such as vision and hearing, in the brain to create a comprehensive perception of the surrounding world. Dysfunction or impairment of the somatesthetic system can result in various sensory disorders, such as numbness, hypersensitivity, difficulty with coordination, or disrupted pain perception.
Overall, the somatesthetic system serves as a vital sensory mechanism, facilitating the perception, interpretation, and response to physical sensations, thereby contributing to the overall sense of embodiment and interaction with the external environment.
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Relating to somatesthesia.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for SOMATESTHETIC
- aomatesthetic
- zomatesthetic
- xomatesthetic
- domatesthetic
- eomatesthetic
- womatesthetic
- simatesthetic
- skmatesthetic
- slmatesthetic
- spmatesthetic
- s0matesthetic
- s9matesthetic
- sonatesthetic
- sokatesthetic
- sojatesthetic
- somztesthetic
- somstesthetic
- somwtesthetic
- somqtesthetic
- somaresthetic
Etymology of SOMATESTHETIC
The word "somesthetic" or "somatosensory" originates from the combination of two roots:
1. "Soma": Derived from the Greek word "sōma", which means "body". In the context of "somesthetic", "soma" refers to the body or bodily sensations.
2. "Aesthetic": Derived from the Greek word "aisthēsis", which means "sensation" or "perception". In the context of "somesthetic", "aesthetic" refers to the sensory perception or sensation.
When combined, the term "somesthetic" refers to sensory perceptions or sensations related to the body. The term is often used in the fields of psychology and neuroscience to describe the various senses, such as touch, pain, temperature, and proprioception, that provide information about one's body and its interactions with the environment.
