What Is the Function of the Sense Organs?

Lena Vasiljeva/CC-BY 2.0

The sense organs take in sensory information that gets sent to the brain, and the body acts on these messages. The sense organs are those responsible for the ability to experience the five senses, which are touch, smell, taste, hearing and sight.

The eye is the sense organ associated with sight, and it detects light that is converted to electro-chemical impulses in neurons. The ear is the sense organ associated with hearing, and the tongue has collections of nerve-like cells known as taste buds that connect to nerves going into the brain. The nose assists in distinguishing different smells, and the skin permits the sensations of cold, heat and touch.

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