Special Senses Overview

These flashcards cover the key concepts relating to the anatomy and physiology of taste, smell, hearing, and balance.

Taste Buds

Chemoreceptors responsible for the perception of taste.

Gustatory Impulses

Nerve impulses carried by cranial nerves VII and IX related to the sense of taste.

Primary Taste Sensations

Sweet, sour, bitter, salty; metallic and umami are emerging as additional primary tastes.

Olfactory Receptors

Receptors located in the olfactory mucosa that detect odors.

Adaptation in Smell

The process wherein olfactory receptors become less sensitive to continuous stimuli.

Integration of Senses

The brain processes sensations from various receptors, impacting perception of flavors.

Mechanoreceptors

Receptors responsible for detecting sound and balance in the ear.

Auricle (Pinna)

The external part of the ear that collects sound waves.

Auditory Ossicles

The three bones in the middle ear (malleus, incus, stapes) that transmit sound vibrations.

Cristae Ampullaris

Receptors in the semicircular canals responsible for balance and dynamic equilibrium.

Endolymph

Fluid within the membranous labyrinth of the inner ear that helps in balance and hearing.

Cochlea

A spiral-shaped organ in the inner ear responsible for converting sound waves into nerve impulses.

Vestibulocochlear Nerve (VIII)

A cranial nerve that carries signals related to hearing and balance.

Otitis Media

Inflammation of the middle ear, often associated with ear infections.

Maculae

Structures in the vestibule that detect static equilibrium and gravitational changes.