Module 7 Flashcards
characterize the peripheral and central organization of the gustatory system
discuss sensory transduction in gustatory receptor cells
describe information coding in the gustatory system
characterize the peripheral and central organization of the olfactory system
discuss sensory transduction in olfactory receptor cells
describe information coding in the olfactory system
can an odor be responded to at different concentrations?
yes, ex. indole smells of flowers at low concentrations and purtrid at high concentrations (could be a result of affinity to receptors)
structure of olfactory system
- odorants (inhaled in)
- layer of mucus, within mucus, are the olfactory cilia, the chemicals must dissolve in the mucus
- the cilia are connected to an olfactory knob
is an odor always detectable as the same scent?
no, can depend on concentration and how affects receptors
process of olfaction
- scent inhaled, dissolved in mucus layer
- binds to olfactory cilia attacked to ORNs
- travels through olfactory knob and affects mature ORNs
- the neurons innervate glomeruli which contact downstream mitral cells
- mitral cels project to the olfactory cortex
what are glomerulus?
circles of coalescing neurons, neurons with same receptor projects to the same glomerulus, 25,000 ORN’s can project to a single glomerulus
how does olfactory system distinguish between smells?
activates receptors with the same features as molecule, molecule can have multiple features, but each feature will end together at a single glomerulus
what are basal cells?
produce stem cells as developing ORNs that replenish damaged mature ORNs
what does bowman’s gland do?
secretes mucus
what is the purpose of mucus?
helps protect against harmful odorants, although more mucus decreases olfactory acuity
where do ORNs receive signals?
ONLY at the cilia
odorant receptors
most are GPCRs, 7 TM receptor
process of olfactory receptor activation
- activated by ligand
- Ga (in this case, Golf), binds to GPT and with ATP at adenyl cyclase III, activates CAMP (second messenger)
- activates ion-gated channel leading to depolarization and activation other ion channels and exchangers (positive in, - out)
- depolarizes membrane
combinatorial odor code
can activate multiple receptors based on how many features a molecule has (most odorants activate multiple glomeruli)
how does a signal from the mitral cell reach the cortex?
afferent inputs: OSN to GL to mitral cells to olfactory cortex
what inhibition are signals from mitral cells to olfactory cortex faced with?
granule cells: top-down inputs and map onto mitral cells, mitral cells can release glutamate which causes granule cell to release GABA back at mitral cell, essentially turning it off (reciprocal synapse bc can send and receive info)
Periglomerular cell: does the same thing, but from OSN to mitral cells
how do chemical signals map onto the pyriform cortex?
aren’t many patterns when just a few receptors activated, but when multiple receptors activated, can see a specific pattern that is specific to each molecule
*added caged glutamate as opposed to full glutamate bc after to activate receptors
the model of pyriform cortex activation in olfactory system
need all receptors of molecules’ features to fire to activate cortical response
what are olfactory bulb targets?
The pyriform cortex, olfactory tubercle, amygdala, and entorhinal cortex are mapping on to…
orbitofrontal cortex, thalamus, hypothalamus, hippocampal formation