Chemical senses

Question 1

TAAR

Answer 1

Trace amine-associated receptors, a small family of 14 receptors that recognize volatile amines e.g. urine

Question 2

What two factors determines a species’ smelling capabilities?

Answer 2

1. Different odorant receptor types
2. Area of the olfactory epithelium

Question 3

Olfactory signal transduction in olfactory receptor neuron

Answer 3

1. Graded receptor potential in receptor cilia
2. Spikes and receptor potential in cell body
3. Spikes without receptor potential in axon

Question 4

Glomeruli

Answer 4

Specialized synaptic areas that receive input from only 1 type of receptor.
26,000 receptor neurons converge onto 200 glomeruli which converge to mitral cells.

Question 5

Which cells provide contrast enhancement?

Answer 5

Granule cell interneurons

Question 6

Smell input is sent to

Answer 6

1. Orbitofrontal cortex: perception and discrimination of odors
2. Amygdala and hypothalamus for emotion and motivation aspects