Chapter 17 - The Special Senses Flashcards
What is olfaction?
Sense of smell
What is the olfactory epithelium?
The superior part of the nasal cavity, covering the interior surface of the cribriform plate & extending along the superior nasal concha
What three kinds of cells are in the olfactory epithelium?
- Olfactory receptors
- Supporting cells
- Basal cells
What are olfactory receptors?
First-order neurons of the olfactory pathway
- bipolar neuron
- axons extend through the cribriform plate & terminated in the olfactory bulb
What are the parts of the olfactory receptors that respond to inhaled chemicals?
Olfactory hairs
- cilia that project from the dendrite
What are odorants?
Chemicals that have an odor & can therefore stimulate the olfactory hairs
How is an olfactory response initiated?
Olfactory receptors response to the chemical stimulation of an odorant molecule by producing a generator potential
What are supporting cells?
Olfactory
Columnar epithelial cells of the mucous membrane lining the nose
What are the functions of the supporting cells?
Olfactory
- provide physical support
- provide nourishment
- provide electrical insulation
- help detoxify chemicals
What are basal cells? (olfaction)
Where are they located?
Stem cells
- located between the bases of the supporting cells
What is remarkable about basal cells?
Continually undergo cell division to produce new olfactory receptors
- replaced every month or so
- most mature neurons are generally NOT replaced
What do olfactory (Bowman’s) glands produce?
Mucus that is carried to the surface of the epithelium by ducts
- moistens the surface of the olfactory epithelium & dissolves odorants so that transduction can occur
How do olfactory receptors respond to odorant molecules?
A generator potential (depolarization) develops & triggers one or more nerve impulses
- in some cases, an odorant binds to an olfactory receptor protein in the plasma membrane of an olfactory hair
What is the threshold for olfaction?
LOW
- only a few molecules of certain substances need be present in the air to be perceived as an odor
Describe olfactory adaptation.
Adaption (decreasing sensitivity) to odors occurs rapidly
Describe the olfactory (I) nerves.
40 or so bundles of axons collectively form the left & right olfactory (I) nerves
What are olfactory bulbs?
Where the olfactory nerves terminate in the brain in paired masses of gray matter
Where are the olfactory bulbs located?
Below the frontal lobes of the cerebrum & lateral to the crista galli of the ethmoid bone
What is the olfactory tract?
Axons of olfactory bulb neurons extend posteriorly to form the olfactory tract
What is gustation?
Sense of taste
What are the 5 primary tastes?
- Sour
- Sweet
- Bitter
- Salty
- Umami (meaty or savory)
Where are the receptors for taste located?
In the taste buds
What does a taste bud consist of?
Oval body consisting of three kinds of epithelial cells:
- supporting cells
- gustatory receptor cells
- basal cells
Where are the taste buds located?
- on the tongue
- soft palate (roof of mouth)
- pharynx (throat)
- epiglottis (cartilage lid over voice box)
How many taste buds does a young adult have?
10,000
- declines with age
How many gustatory receptor cells do the supporting cells surround in each taste bud?
50 gustatory receptor cells
Where does a gustatory hair project from?
From each gustatory receptor cell to the external surface through the taste pore
What is a taste pore?
An opening in the taste bud
What are basal cells? (gustatory)
Where are they located?
Stem cells
- Found at the periphery of the taste bud near the connective tissue layer
What is the function of basal cells?
gustatory
Produce supporting cells, when then develop into gustatory receptor cells
What is the life span of a gustatory receptor cell?
About 10 days
What is the function of papillae (on the tongue)?
- Increase surface area
- Provide a rough texture to the upper surface of the tongue
What three types of papillae that contain taste buds?
- Vallate (circumvallate) papillae
- Fungiform papillae
- Foliate papillae
Describe vallate (circumvallate) papillae.
About 12 very large, circular papillae form an inverted V-shaped row at the back of the tongue
- each houses about 100-300 taste buds
Describe fungiform papillae.
Mushroom-shaped elevations scattered over the entire surface of the tongue
- contain about 5 taste buds each
Describe foliate papillae.
Located in small trenches on the lateral margins of the tongue
- most of their taste buds degenerate in early childhood
Which papillae cover the entire surface of the tongue?
Filiform papillae
Describe filiform papillae.
Pointed, threadlike structures contain tactile receptors, but NO taste buds
- increase friction between the tongue & food, makes it easier to move food into the oral cavity
What are tastants?
Chemicals that stimulate gustatory receptor cells
How do different tastes arise?
From the activation of different groups of taste neurons
- a gustatory receptor cell may respond more strongly to some tastants than to others
Which ions cause the depolarization of salty foods?
Which ions cause the depolarization of sour foods?
Salty - Na+2 ions
Sour - H+ ions
How is depolarization achieved for sweet, bitter, and umami tastes?
They bind to receptors on the plasma membrane that are linked to G proteins
- G proteins activate chemicals (second messengers)
- Second messengers cause depolarization
Describe the threshold for taste.
Bitter threshold - very low
Sour threshold - somewhat higher
Salty & sweet threshold - higher than bitter & sour
Why is the bitter threshold so low?
Protective function
- poisonous substances are often bitter
Describe taste adaptation.
Complete adaptation to a specific taste can occur in 1-5 minutes of continuous stimulation
Which sense is more sensitive, olfaction or gustation?
Olfaction
Describe the gustatory pathway.
Taste buds –> Gustatory nucleus in Medulla Oblongata –> Limbic system & Hypothalamus & Thalamus–> Primary Gustatory Area in the Parietal lobe of the cerebral cortex
What is vision?
The act of seeing
What are the accessory structures of the eye?
- eyelids
- eyelashes
- eyebrows
- lacrimal apparatus (tear producers)
- extrinsic eye muscles
What are the function of the eyelids (palpebrae)?
- shade the eyes during sleep
- protect from excessive light
- protect from foreign objects
- spread lubrication over eyeball
What is the palpebral fissure?
Space between the upper & lower eyelids that exposes the eyeball
What is the lacrimal caruncle?
Small, reddish elevation in the corner of the eye
- contains sebaceous (oil) glands & sudoriferous (sweat) glands
What is the function of the tarsal (meibomian) glands?
Where are they located?
- embedded in each tarsal plate is a row of elongated modified sebaceous glands
- secrete a fluid that helps keep the eyelids from adhering to each other
What is the conjunctiva?
A thin, protective mucous membrane composed of non-keratinized stratified squamous epithelium with numerous goblet cells
- supported by areolar connective tissue
What is the function of the eyelashes and eyebrows?
Help protect the eyeballs from foreign objects, perspiration & direct rays of the sun
What is the lacrimal apparatus?
Group of structures that produces & drains lacrimal fluid (tears)
What is lacrimal fluid?
Tears
What are lacrimal glands?
Secrete lacrimal fluid
- drain into 6-12 excretory lacrimal ducts
What are excretory lacrimal ducts?
Ducts that empty tears onto the surface of the conjunctiva of the upper lid
What are lacrimal canals?
Two ducts that lead into the lacrimal sac
What is the lacrimal sac?
Tears pass from lacrimal canals into the lacrimal sac
- then into the nasolacrimal duct
Where does the nasolacrimal duct carry the lacrimal fluid to?
Into the nasal cavity just inferior to the inferior nasal concha
What is lysozyme?
A protective bactericidal enzyme
- protects, cleans, lubricates & moistens the eyeball
What is the order of the flow of tears?
- Lacrimal gland
- Lacrimal ducts
- Superior or inferior lacrimal canal
- Lacrimal sac
- Nasolacrimal duct
- Nasal cavity
What do the extrinsic eye muscles allow the eye to do?
Move the eye in almost any direction
What are the 6 extrinsic eye muscles?
- superior rectus
- inferior rectus
- lateral rectus
- medial rectus
- superior oblique
- inferior oblique
What are the three layers of the eyeball?
- fibrous tunic
- vascular tunic
- retina
What is the fibrous tunic?
The superficial layer of the eyeball
- consists of the anterior cornea & posterior sclera
What is the cornea?
A transparent coat that covers the colored iris
- it is curved
What is the function of the cornea?
Helps focus light onto the retina, b/c it is curved
What is the sclera?
The “white” of the eye
- covers the entire eyeball except for the cornea
What is the function of the sclera?
- Gives shape to the eyeball
- Makes it more rigid
- Protects its inner parts
- Serves as a site of attachment for the extrinsic eye muscles
What is the scleral venous sinus?
Canal of Schlemm
Junction of the sclera & the cornea
What is the vascular tunic?
The middle layer of the eyeball
What three parts is the vascular tunic composed of?
- Choroid
- Ciliary Body
- Iris
What is the choroid?
Posterior portion of vascular tunic
- lines most of the internal surface of the sclera
- contains blood vessels that nourish the eye
What is the ciliary body?
What is it’s function?
The part of the eye that connects the iris to the choroid
- secretes aqueous humor
- alters shape of lens for near/far vision
What are ciliary processes?
Protrusions or folds on the internal surface of the ciliary body
- contain blood capillaries that secrete aqueous humor
What are zonular fibres?
Fibres that extend from the ciliary process & attach to the lens
What is the ciliary muscle?
Circular band of smooth muscle
What happens if the ciliary muscles contract or relax?
Tightness of the zonular fibers change
- alters the shape of the lens, adapting it for far or near vision
What is the iris?
The colored portion of the eye
- shaped like a flattened donut
What is the function of the iris?
Regulate the amount of light entering the eyeball through the pupil
What is the pupil?
Hole in the center of the iris
What is the function of the circular muscles?
When contracted, cause a decrease in the size of the pupil
- when there is lots of light
What is the function of radial muscles?
When contracted, cause an increase in the pupil’s size
- when the light is dim
What is the retina?
What is it’s function?
Inner layer of the eyeball
- receives light, converts it to receptor potential & nerve impulses
What is the optic disc?
The site where the optic (II) nerve exits the eyeball