Special Senses: Smell and Taste

These flashcards cover the key concepts from the lecture on the special senses, specifically focusing on the olfactory and gustatory systems.

What is the fancy medical term for our sense of smell?

Olfaction.

Where is the olfactory epithelium located?

In the most superior part of the nasal cavity.

What do you do to enhance your ability to smell?

Sniff.

What type of cells make up the olfactory epithelium?

Epithelial support cells and olfactory sensory neurons.

What are the olfactory sensory neurons classified as?

Chemoreceptors.

What is a potential problem with the location of the olfactory epithelium?

It is prone to infection due to holes in the cribriform plate of the ethmoid bone.

What do the olfactory cilia contain?

Membrane receptors that bind to odorants.

What type of cells replace olfactory neurons regularly?

Basal cells.

What must occur for olfactory receptors to generate receptor potentials?

Gas molecules or chemicals must dissolve in the mucus in the olfactory epithelium.

How many primary scents can most individuals identify?

Several hundred.

What is anosmia?

The complete lack of smell.

What are the five primary taste sensations?

Bitter, salty, sweet, umami (savory), and sour.

What structure contains most of the taste buds?

The tongue.

Which type of papillae looks like mushrooms?

Fungiform papillae.

What is the role of filiform papillae?

They provide texture and mouthfeel but do not contain taste buds.

What is the primary function of gustatory cells?

They are chemoreceptors that respond to tastants.

Which cranial nerve carries taste impulses from the anterior two-thirds of the tongue?

Facial nerve (cranial nerve VII).

Which cranial nerve transmits taste impulses from the posterior third of the tongue?

Glossopharyngeal nerve (cranial nerve IX).

What is flavor a combination of?

Taste, texture, temperature, and other sensory inputs.

What are the functions of the inner ear?

Hearing and balance (equilibrium).

What are the three main components of the ear?

External ear, middle ear, and inner ear.

What is the name of the eardrum?

Tympanic membrane.

What kind of fluid is endolymph?

A clear, potassium-rich fluid inside the membranous labyrinth of the inner ear.

What is the organ of Corti responsible for?

It is responsible for transducing sound vibrations into neural signals.

How does sound cause the hair cells in the cochlea to generate nerve impulses?

Sound vibrations bend the hair cell cilia, changing membrane potential and causing transduction.

What type of receptors initiate taste sensations?

Chemoreceptors.

How many distinct tastes can humans perceive?

Approximately five primary tastes with variations.

What is the main purpose of the vestibular system in the inner ear?

To maintain balance and equilibrium.

What type of waves travel through the cochlear fluid to stimulate hair cells?

Sound waves.

What are the two types of fluids found in the inner ear?

Endolymph and perilymph.

What are the major anatomical structures of the cochlea?

Scala vestibuli, scala tympani, and cochlear duct.

What is the connection between smell and memory?

Smell is closely associated with memories and can trigger emotional responses.