5.1 Special Senses: Olfaction and Gustation

These flashcards cover essential vocabulary and concepts regarding the special senses, focusing particularly on olfaction and gustation.

Olfaction

The sense of smell, facilitated by olfactory receptors in the nasal cavity.

Gustation

The sense of taste, primarily detected by taste receptor cells in the taste buds.

Chemoreceptors

Specialized receptors that respond to chemical stimuli; essential for both olfaction and gustation.

Olfactory epithelium

A specialized tissue in the nasal cavity containing olfactory sensory neurons responsible for detecting odorants.

Taste buds

Clusters of taste receptor cells located on the tongue that allow for the sensation of taste.

Lamina propria

A layer of connective tissue that supports mucous membranes, containing blood vessels and glands.

Cilia

Hair-like projections on olfactory sensory neurons that help to detect dissolved chemicals.

G protein-coupled receptors

Receptors that bind to odorants or taste molecules and activate intracellular signaling pathways.

Action potential

A rapid rise and fall in voltage or membrane potential across a cellular membrane, essential for nerve signal transmission.

Gustatory sensations

The five primary tastes recognized by the human palate: sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami.

Filiform papillae

The most numerous type of lingual papillae that provide friction but do not contain taste buds.

Umami

A taste sensation associated with amino acids, often described as a savory or meaty flavor.

Olfactory pathway

The neural pathway from the olfactory bulb to the brain, including synapses with mitral cells and projections to the olfactory cortex.

Gustatory pathway

The neural pathway from taste receptor cells to the brain via cranial nerves and the gustatory cortex.

Neurotransmitters

Chemicals released from neurons that transmit signals across synapses to other neurons.

Homeostasis

The maintenance of stable internal conditions in the body, which sensory organs help regulate.

Olfactory discrimination

The ability to distinguish between different odors based on patterns of receptor activity.

Basal cells

Stem cells located in taste buds that regenerate gustatory receptor cells roughly every 7-10 days.