chemical senses - jullet Flashcards
What is unique about the olfactory system?
information does not necessarily go through the thalamus on its way to the 6-layered cortex (unlike other sensory information)
What are the 3 parts of the nervous system dedicated to detecting chemicals in the environment?
1) trigeminal system, 2) olfactory system, 3) gustatory system
What is the function of the trigeminal system?
lingual branch innervates oral cavity; serves a protective function of detecting noxious and irritating compounds (ie vinegar, ammonia, capsaicin).
What is the sensitivity of the channels in the trigeminal system?
low affinity, low threshold (high sensitivity) receptors
What are TRP channels? What is an example of a TRP channel?
Transient Receptor Potential = TRP. Receptors that mediate sensations of pain, temperature, pressure, vision. Ex: Capsaicin receptor conveys sensations of heat and pain
What type of information do capsaicin receptors convey?
capsaicin receptor conveys sensations of heat and pain
Why is capsaicin used clinically as an analgesic and pain reliever?
Capsaicin receptor conveys sensations of heat via nociceptive fibers, where these channels are expressed. Chronic exposure of the capsaicin desensitizes the fibers, and that’s why it has been used clinically as an analgesic and pain reliever.
What is the sensitivity of the channels in the olfactory system?
high sensitivity (low threshold) + broad discriminatory powers (can distinguish thousands of different compounds)
T/F You can predict what a molecule smells like based on its structure.
False. There’s no way to predict what a compound will smell like based on its structure.
T/F The elderly has decreased olfaction compared to the youngins.
True. The ability to detect odors as we get older declines with age.
What are anosmias?
selective olfactory deficits for particular compounds (ie some people can’t detect butyl mercaptan (skunk odors))
The nasal cavity is composed of this epithelium.
RESPIRATORY epithelium with cilitated respiratory cells and goblet cells (mucus) and OLFACTORY epithelium, which contains CN1 olfactory neurons
Where are olfactory neurons localized in the nasal cavity?
in the olfactory epithelium - on the upper concha and part of the middle one. Their axons travel through the cribiform plate to synapse with the neurons in the olfactory bulb.
What are the 3 cell types of the olfactory epithelium?
1) basal cells, 2) support cells, 3) receptor cells
What are the roles of basal cells in the olfactory epithelium?
precursors of the receptor cell population that undergoes continual turnover
What are the roles of support cells in the olfactory epithelium?
provide (nutritional) support to receptor cells
Where can you find glomeruli?
olfactory bulb
What are mitral cells?
neurons in the olfactory bulb that synapse with CN1 (from the olfactory epithelium) and project to different regions of the brain.
What are the roles of receptor cells in the olfactory epithelium?
CN1 - soma with distal DENDRITES that project into the olfactory epithelium and unmyelinated AXONS that aggregate with other axons into FASICLES before becoming ensheathed in Schwann cells to form the OLFACTORY NERVE (which passes through the cribiform plate to synapse in the olfactory bulb)
What does the olfactory bulb contain?
it contains spherical structures called GLOMERULI, which are axonal endings of RECEPTOR CELLS (CN1) and MITRAL CELLS (neurons of the olfactory bulb that project to different regions of the brain).
What accounts for the sensitivity of the olfactory system?
large number of olfactory receptor neurons
What part of the receptor neuron plays a key role in olfactory transmission?
CILIA on receptor cells is where APs are generated (if odorants are applied to other areas of the cell or if the cilia are removed, most of the response is lost)
Odorant receptors are what type of receptors?
G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs)
What is the (second messengers) transduction mechanism for odorant receptors on the cilia of receptor cells? (3)
1) cAMP, 2) Ca2+, or 3) IP3 induces gated channels to open.
T/F If you administer an inhibitor of adenylate cyclase, you abolish all sense of smell.
False. There is more than one transduction mechanism that receptor cells use to convey olfactory stimuli (ie cAMP, Ca2+, IP3)
T/F Individual receptor cells express several types of receptor types.
False. They express one or a small number of receptor types. (there are large families of olfactory receptor genes in animals that contribute to the broad discriminatory powers of olfactory systems)
T/F Receptor neurons expressing the same odorant receptor converge in the same glomerulus.
True. This type of integration may be a point of comparison and discrimination and may contribute to sensitivity.