chapter 17- nervous system: special senses Flashcards
why is it unusual that the olfactory epithelium contains basal cells that replace the olfactory receptor cells every 60 days?
olfactory receptors are neurons & most neurons are not replaced & must function for a lifetime
olfactory glands produce what?
mucus
olfactory cilia are covered in what which each function to bind a few different odorant molecules to trigger olfactory signaling through G protein activation?
odorant binding proteins
the axons of the olfactory receptor cells synapse on the what?
olfactory bulbs
what deficiency could result in the condition of anosmia because it is necessary for stem cell division?
zinc
the molecules that can be bound by the chemoreceptors on gustatory hairs are called?
tastants
there are five primary taste sensations: sweet, sour, salty, bitter and what else?
umami
where is the gustatory cortex located?
insula of cerebrum
processing of gustatory information in the hypothalamus and limbic system results in?
emotional reaction to flavors
why do you taste salt and sour more rapidly than sweet?
salt & sour receptors are chemically gated ion channels that release neurotransmitters rapidly (sweet requires activation of G proteins & second messengers which is slower)
why do you notice new tastes easily but not the same taste for a prolonged
period?
central adaptation of the gustation pathways
mame the bump in the medial corner of the eye that contains sebaceous &
sudoriferous glands
lacrimal caruncle
what is the transparent mucous membrane that
covers the anterior surface of the eye? it can become infected and inflamed
resulting in “pink eye”
conjunctiva
what is the condition of being born with weakness of the external eye muscles resulting in “cross eyes”?
strabismus
the white fibrous tunic that makes up most of the outside of the eyeball is the
what? it’s continuous with the epineurium of the optic nerve
sclera
why are there a lot of pain receptors in your cornea?
defense to avoid injury (clear collagen can only be made during embryonic development, injury after birth will result in opaque scars)
The hole in the middle of the iris that allows light to enter the eye is called the?
pupil
why is the optic disc a “blind spot”?
no photoreceptors
the part of your retina with the highest concentration of photoreceptors is the
what? the focal point directly behind the center of
the lens
macula lutea
the posterior segment of the eyeball is filled with a clear gel called?
vitreous humor
aqueous humor is constantly produced by the what?
ciliary body
why does a red object appear red?
because it reflects the red wavelengths of the light (~750nm) to the eye
the rounder a lens what is the focal distance?
shorter
without corrective lenses, a person with what naturally refracts light to a point behind the retina?
hyperopia
what is the visual pigment that is composed of retinal from vitamin A and the protein opsin?
rhodopsin
the photoreceptors called what absorb any wavelength
between 380nm and 750nm and when activated will result in perceptions of
shades of gray?
rods
what is the function of horizontal cells of the retina?
to facilitate or inhibit the synapse of photoreceptor cells on the bipolar cells
what is the purpose of visual signaling being routed to the suprachiasmatic
nucleus of the hypothalamus?
to set your sense of a 24-hour day, set circadian rhythms
the external auditory canal begins at the auricle and ends at the what?
tympanic membrane
the three auditory ossicles are the malleus, incus and what else?
stapes
what is the function of the auditory tube?
allow for equalization of pressure in the middle ear
what is the collective function of the tensor tympani and stapedius muscles?
reduce amount of sound energy being transmitted into inner ear
in what fluid-filled inner ear structure are the hearing receptor cells located?
cochlea
the total frequency range of human hearing is 20 to what Hz, however we lose the higher frequencies with age?
20,000
hair cells function as what? When the stereocilia are touched or bent the cell depolarizes?
mechanoreceptors
what is the purpose of auditory signaling being processed in the inferior colliculi of the mesencephalon?
initiate auditory reflexes
having an accident with loud sound where all the stereocilia get broken off your hair cells would result in what?
sensorineural deafness
the receptors for static equilibrium are what housed in the vestibule?
maculae
the receptors for dynamic equilibrium are the what housed in the semicircular canals?
crista ampullaris
equilibrium signaling enters the brain through the what nerve?
vestibulocochlear nerve (cranial nerve VIII)
if you spin around, when you stop the endolymph in vestibular complex /apparatus will keep spinning for a while which will cause movements of
the eyes. this phenomenon is called?
nystagmus
five special senses:
smell, taste, sight,
hearing, equilibrium
special senses
-5 of them
-all involve special sensory receptors
-distinct receptor cells
-housed in complex sensory organs or unique epithelial structures
olfaction (smell)
-olfactory organs = olfactory epithelium
-housed in nasal cavity, inferior surface of cribriform plate and superior nasal conchae
olfactory receptor cells (olfactory epithelium component)
-bipolar neurons
-chemoreceptors
-bind and respond
to odorants (smell
chemicals)
supporting cells (olfactory epithelium component)
simple columnar epithelium
basal cells (olfactory epithelium component)
-stem cells
-replace olfactory receptor cells every 60 days
lamina propria (olfactory epithelium component)
-areolar CT
-supports epithelium and neurons
-contains olfactory glands for mucus
production: mucus covers surface of olfactory epithelium
olfactory receptor cells
-single dendrite at apical
surface of epithelium
-dendrite ends in knob
covered in olfactory cilia
-cilia extend into mucus
-odorant binding proteins on
cilia bind chemical odorant molecules that have diffused into mucus
-each receptor cell has only one type of odorant binding protein but each protein
binds several odorants
-axon from each cell passes
through olfactory foramina
of cribriform plate to synapse on olfactory bulbs (axons = olfactory nerves)
how many olfactory receptors do humans have?
~1000 different odorant binding proteins, distinguish ~10,000 different
odors
olfactory signaling: 1-3
- odorant binds odorant binding protein on olfactory receptor cell cilia in mucus
- G-protein is activated which activates adenylate cyclase
- ATP is converted into cAMP
olfactory signaling: 4-6
- cAMP causes sodium channels to open resulting in depolarization
- if threshold is reached an action potential is transmitted to olfactory bulbs
- the nervous impulse from olfactory bulbs travels down olfactory tracts to be routed to olfactory cortex of temporal lobe of cerebrum for interpretation & hypothalamus & limbic systems to elicit emotional response to odors
olfactory signaling
-signaling can also stimulate reflexes for salivation, digestive secretion, sneezing & coughing
-olfactory pathways converge & are subject to rapid central adaptation
uncinate fits (olfactory disorder)
-olfactory hallucinations
-distorted sense of smell due to damage of olfactory pathways, epilepsy, or migraines
anosmias
-“without smells”
-loss of sense of smell
-due to head injury, inflammation, age, or zinc
deficiency (zinc necessary for growth of basal cells to
replace receptor cells)
gustation (taste)
-gustation organs = taste buds
~10,000 total
-most located on tongue associated with lingual papillae (friction bumps)
-small number on oral surfaces: soft palate, inner cheeks, pharynx, epiglottis
taste bud components
-50-100 epithelial cells
of two types: gustatory & basal cells
-taste buds located deep in tongue epithelium with gustatory hairs protruding into taste pore
gustatory cells (taste bud component)
-taste receptor cells
-in various stages of maturity
-gustatory hairs in mature
-gustatory hairs bind tastants (taste chemicals)
-each gustatory cell is wrapped in sensory
dendrites
gustatory hairs
long microvilli that function as chemoreceptors
basal cells (taste bud component)
-stem cells
-replace gustatory
cells every 7-10 days
5 primary taste sensations
- sweet: sugars, alcohols, some amino acids
- sour: acids
- salty: metal ions
- bitter: alkaloids
- umami “delicious”: amino acid glutamate (beef taste) (MSG binds this)
tastes and cravings drive dietary needs:
-umami -> proteins
-sugar & salty -> carbs & minerals
-sour -> vitamin C
-tastes also protect: most toxins are bitter
gustatory signaling 1-3
- tastant must be dissolved in saliva & diffuse into taste pores
- tastant binds chemoreceptors on gustatory hairs of a mature gustatory cell
- gustatory cell releases neurotransmitters to signal sensory dendrites around it
gustatory signaling 4-5
- if threshold is reached, action potentials will be transmitted along facial nerve (VII), glossopharyngeal nerve (IX), or vagus nerve (X), to solitary nucleus of medulla oblongata
- info is passed to thalamus for screening & routing to:
a. gustatory cortex in insula of cerebrum (80% of taste is smell)
b. hypothalamus & limbic system to elicit emotional reaction to taste
gustatory signaling
-signaling can trigger reflexes to stimulate digestive activity
-threshold necessary for stimulation of neural pathways varies with receptor & person but everyone is generally more sensitive to bitter & acid
-gustation pathways undergo rapid central adaptation
salt & sour receptors are chemically gated ion channels (gustatory signaling):
they release neurotransmitters rapidly upon binding tastant
sweet, bitter & umami receptors are G-proteins that work through second messengers (gustatory signaling):
release of neurotransmitter and slower
vision (sight)
vision organs = eyes
-70% of total body receptors
-50% of cerebral cortex involved in vision processing
accessory structures of the eye
to protect or aid function of eye
eyebrows (accessory structure of the eye)
-shade from the sun
-prevent perspiration trickling in
eyelids (accessory structure of the eye)
-blink via reflexes: every 3-7sec or in response to threat
-keep eye surface lubricated & free of dust by spreading glandular secretions
lacrimal caruncle (part of eyelid -> accessory structure of the eye)
-medial corner
-contains sebaceous & sudoriferous glands that produce secretions to lubricate eye surface