Biol 216- Topic 7: The Senses

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to the senses, particularly taste (gustation) and smell (olfaction), as discussed in the Biol 216 lecture notes.

Chemoreceptors

Receptors that respond to the presence of specific molecules in the environment, involved in taste (gustation) and smell (olfaction).

Gustation

The sensory process of tasting, which involves detecting flavor through taste buds on the tongue.

Olfaction

The sensory process of smelling, which involves detecting odors through olfactory receptors in the nasal cavity.

Taste Bud

Sensory structures that detect taste, composed of supporting cells surrounding gustatory cells.

Papillae

Specialized regions on the tongue that contain taste buds, enabling the perception of taste.

Umami

The savory taste, attributed to amino acids such as glutamate.

Tastants

Substances that can be tasted, dissolving in saliva and entering taste pores on the tongue.

Taste Pore

A tiny opening through which tastants enter and interact with taste cells.

Electrical signal

The result of depolarization in taste and olfactory cells that leads to the perception of taste and smell.

Thermoreceptors

Free nerve endings that detect changes in body temperature.

Nociceptors

Receptors that detect stimuli that can damage body tissues, leading to the sensation of pain.

Neuronal pathways for taste

The routes that sensory neuron axons take to transmit taste information from taste receptors to the brain.

Vallate Papillae

The largest and least numerous type of papillae on the tongue, containing taste buds.

Action potentials

Nerve impulses that are transmitted to the brain as a result of stimulation from taste or smell.

Cilia

Hair-like structures on olfactory neurons that play a crucial role in detecting odorants.

Olfactory bulb

A multi-layered structure that processes odor information, receiving axons from olfactory neurons.

Emotional response

The reactions that can be elicited by odors, as olfactory signals connect to the limbic system.