Physiology

Question 1

How is salty taste stimulated?

Answer 1

NaCl/chemical salts

Question 2

How is sour taste stimulated?

Answer 2

H+ ions in acid

Question 3

How is sweet taste stimulated?

Answer 3

Configuration of glucose is the reason we taste sweet

Question 4

How is bitter taste stimulated?

Answer 4

Bitter taste is stimulated by lots of different tastants

e.g. alkaloids, poisonous substances and toxic plant derivatives

Question 5

How is Umami (meaty or savoury) taste stimulated?

Answer 5

Triggered by amino acids especially glutamate

Question 6

Aguesia

Answer 6

Loss of taste

Question 7

What might cause loss of taste? (aguesia)

Answer 7

Nerve damage
Local inflammation
Some endocrine disorders

Question 8

What is hypoguesia?

Answer 8

Reduced taste function

Question 9

What might cause hypoguesia?

Answer 9

Chemotherapy, medications

Question 10

What is dysguesia?

Answer 10

Distortion of taste function

Question 11

Causes of dysguesia?

Answer 11

Glossitis, gum infections, tooth decay, reflux, upper respiratory tract infections, chemotherapy, medications, neoplasm, zinc deficiency

Question 12

Deficiency of which mineral could lead to dysguesia?

Answer 12

Zinc deficiency

Question 13

Olfacation

Answer 13

Smell

Question 14

Where is the olfactory mucosa?

Answer 14

The olfactory mucosa is in the ceiling (dorsal roof) of the nasal cavity

Question 15

What cells are found in the olfactory mucosa?

Answer 15

Olfactory receptor cells, support cells, and basal cells (secrete mucous)

Question 16

Olfactory receptor life span

Answer 16

2 months

Question 17

What are the precursors for new olfactory receptor cells?

Answer 17

Basal cells

Question 18

Axons of olfactory receptors collectively form what?

Answer 18

Axons of olfactory receptors collectively form afferent fibres of the olfactory nerve

Question 19

Where do afferent fibres of the olfactory nerve pierce and enter?

Answer 19

They pierce the cribriform plate of the ethmoid bone and enter the olfactory bulbs in the interior surface of the brain

Question 20

What do olfactory bulbs do?

Answer 20

They transmit smell information to the brain

Question 21

During quiet breathing. how do odorants reach smell receptors?

Answer 21

During quiet breathing, odorants only reach smell receptors by diffusion - olfactory mucoasa is above normal path of airflow

Question 22

What does sniffing do?

Answer 22

Enhances smelling by drawing air currents upwards within the nasal cavity

Question 23

To be smelled, a substance must be what?

Answer 23

1) sufficiently volatile

2) soluble in water

Question 24

Anosmia?

Answer 24

Inability to smell

Question 25

Causes of anosmia?

Answer 25

Viral infections, allergy, nasal polyps, head injury

Question 26

Hyposmia?

Answer 26

Reduced ability to smell

-similar causes to anosmia

Question 27

What may hyposmia be an early sign of?

Answer 27

Hyposmia may be an early sign of parkinsons!

Question 28

Dysosmia?

Answer 28

Altered sense of smell

Examples include: differently interpreting some odours; and hallucinations of smell

Question 29

Organs of taste?

Answer 29

Tastebuds

Question 30

What do taste buds consist of?

Answer 30

Sensory receptor cells and support cells

Question 31

Taste receptor cell life span?

Answer 31

10 days

Question 32

What do taste receptor cells synapse with?

Answer 32

Synapse with afferent nerve fibres

Question 33

Where are tastebuds found?

Answer 33

Tongue, palate, epiglottis and pharynx