Ch 16 Special Senses: Olfactory

Question 1

How is the sense of smell different from the other special senses?

Answer 1

it is the only special sense that doesn’t go through the thalamus

Question 2

What bone do the olfactory sensory nerves come through on the way to the olfactory epithelium?

Answer 2

cribriform plate of the ethmoid bone

Question 3

Process of olfaction

Answer 3

• odorant binds to receptor protein on dendrites
• depolarization of olfactory neuron
• action protentional through axon
• reaches olfactory bulb
• axons travel via olfactory tract to the olfactory cortex, hypothalamus, and limbic system