Chapter 09: Hearing, Taste, and Smell

Question 1

What are tip links?

Answer 1

The springs on stereocilia that pull ion channels open when shearing occurs.

Question 2

What is sensorineural deafness?

Answer 2

A form of deafness that involves the hair cells of the inner ear.

Question 3

Axons projecting the in cochlea synapse with the ________ and the __________.

Answer 3

cochlear nucleus; superior olivary nucleus

Question 4

What are the two forms of pitch discrimination?

Answer 4

Spatial coding and temporal coding.

Question 5

What acts as the cochlear amplifier?

Answer 5

Outer hair cells

Question 6

How does the cochlear amplifier work?

Answer 6

OHCs change their shape when K+ enters, and push on the basilar membrane.

Question 7

What is the labeled line hypothesis of taste?

Answer 7

The idea that specific neurons will only respond to one particular taste.

Question 8

What is the transduction mechanism in taste cells for salt?

Answer 8

Na+ entering ungated sodium ion channels

Question 9

What is the transduction mechanism in taste cells for sour?

Answer 9

H+ ions (protons) entering hydrogen ion channels

Question 10

What is the transduction mechanism in taste cells for sweet, bitter, and umami?

Answer 10

Specialized G protein coupled (metabotropic) receptors

Question 11

What is the signal transduction pathway for olfaction?

Answer 11

G(olf) -> adenylyl cyclase -> cAMP opens ion channels -> Cl- leaves cell