Chemical senses

L20

What are the 5 basic tastes and the class of receptor that is used to detect them ?

• salty - ion channel, ENaC

• sour - ion channel

• sweet - GPCR

• bitter - GPCR

• umami - GPCR

What are the major anatomical structures of the upper gastrointestinal tract involved in taste?

primarily tongue, also cheeks, soft palate, pharynx, epiglottis with papillae taste buds

Where are receptors expressed allowing transduction of different stimuli?

membrane of taste cells

How do receptor potentials trigger action potentials in the primary afferent neurons of the gustatory system?

What are functions of the olfactory and gustatory systems?

• Identify food sources

• Avoid noxious substances

• Find a mate or mark territories

Name the major anatomical structures of the nose involved in smell.

Describe the transduction mechanism in olfactory receptor cells

How do receptor potentials trigger action potentials in the primary afferent neurons of the olfactory system?

What’s the organisation of cells within the glomerulus?