The Special Senses - Eye, Ear and Nose

Flashcards about special senses, gustation and taste pathways.

Gustatory Cells

Taste receptors housed in specialized organs termed taste buds.

Papillae

Elevated epithelial and connective tissues on the dorsal surface of the tongue where taste buds are located.

Cranial Nerves Involved in Taste Pathway

Facial (VII), Glossopharyngeal (IX), and Vagus (X).

Gustatory Nucleus

The location in the medulla oblongata where nerve impulses from taste buds are sent via cranial nerves.

Primary Gustatory Area

The area in the parietal lobe's cortex where conscious perception of taste occurs.

What is gustation?

Gustation is the sense of taste, involving the detection of certain chemicals in food by taste buds on the tongue.

Where are the taste buds located on the tongue?

The taste buds are located on the dorsal surface of the tongue in
elevated epithelial and connective tissues called papillae

Other than the tongue where else can taste buds be found?

some on the soft palate, epiglottis and pharynx

Overtime does the number of taste buds decline?

Yes

What is taste (gustatory) receptors lifespan?

Taste (gustatory) receptors have a life span of about 10 days.

In the taste pathway what cranial nerves are involved?

• Facial nerve (VII)

• Glossopharyngeal nerve (IX)

• Vagus nerve (X)

What are the taste pathways?

• Taste signals from taste buds travel via these cranial nerves to the gustatory nucleus in the medulla oblongata.

• From there, signals may go to the limbic system and hypothalamus (for emotional/automatic responses) or to the thalamus.

• From the thalamus, signals are sent to the primary gustatory cortex in the parietal lobe, where taste is consciously perceived