Taste Anatomy
Bumps on the tongue
Papillae
These are the airborne chemical molecules that contribute to odors and olfaction.
Odorant
A person who tastes certain flavors more strongly than other people.
Supertasters - more papillae
These contain the taste receptor cells built into the walls of the papillae
Taste buds
Odorants absorb into the mucus membrane of the nose and interact with _________________-
odor receptor neurons (ORNs)
These tastants activate G protein– coupled receptors
Salty and sour tastants directly activate ion channels, whereas tastants perceived as bitter, sweet, or umami activate G protein– coupled receptors
These have microvilli which physically interact with tastants (1 receptor type/cell) are nonneuronal
Taste Receptor Cells
The tissue that is covered in chemoreceptor cells that detect odor molecules.
What is the olfactory epithelium?
A bulb that connects the olfactory nerve to the olfactory membrane.
The olfactory bulb
The part of the brain that processes taste
Gustatory Cortex
True/False
Odorants bind to specific receptors, which causes hyperpolarization of the cilia membrane.
False
This area is considered the most prominent olfactory destination and is involved in odor learning
Piriform cortex
These cranial nerves carry taste information up the gustatory pathway
Facial,Glossopharyngeal & Vagus cranial nerves are excited
The olfactory epithelium contains all the following types of cells except _______ cells.
a. basal
b. receptor
c. supporting
d. glomerular
d. glomerular
Damaged or lack of olfactory bulbs (OB) caused this
Congenital Anosmia - total lack of smell