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ENT Medicine > Physiology of Taste and Smell > Flashcards

Physiology of Taste and Smell Flashcards

1
Q

What kind of receptor are those for taste and smell?

A

Chemoreceptors = stimulated by binding of particular chemicals

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2
Q

What does stimulation of taste and smell receptors induce?

A

Pleasurable or objectionable sensation

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3
Q

What do taste and smell provide a checkpoint for?

A

Quality control (ie has food gone off etc)

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4
Q

What do taste and smell influence in association with food intake?

A

Flow of digestive juices

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5
Q

What influences taste perception?

A

Information from smell receptors

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6
Q

What is gustation?

A

Term for sense of taste

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7
Q

Where are the sensory receptor cells of taste mainly packaged?

A

In taste buds

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8
Q

What are the sense organs of taste?

A

Taste buds

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9
Q

What do taste buds consist of?

A

Sensory receptor cells and support cells arranged like slices of orange

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10
Q

What is the life span of taste receptor cells?

A

About 10 days = replaced by basal cells within taste buds

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11
Q

What do taste receptor cells synapse with inside taste buds?

A

Afferent nerve fibres

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12
Q

Where are taste buds present?

A

Tongue, palate, epiglottis, pharynx

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13
Q

Where are the majority of taste buds found?

A

Sit in papillae in the tongue

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14
Q

What are the papillae of the tongue?

A

Finger-like structures which give rise to rough appearance of dorsum of tongue = seen in tongue as little red dots/raised bumps

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15
Q

How many types of papillae are in the human tongue?

A

4 types = filiform (most common, no taste buds), fungiform, vallate, foliate

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16
Q

What does the binding of taste-provoking chemicals (tastant) to receptors cells cause?

A

Alters cell ionic channels and produces depolarising receptor potential

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17
Q

What does the receptor potential created by the binding of taste-provoking chemicals cause?

A

Initiates action potentials in afferent nerve fibres which synapse with receptor cells

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18
Q

What conveys the signals from the tongue to the brain?

A

Cranial nerves = via brainstem and thalamus to cortical gustatory areas

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19
Q

What are some cranial nerves that carry afferent taste fibres to the brainstem?

A 
7th  = chorda tympani branch of facial nerve
9th = glossopharyngeal
10th = vagus
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20
Q

Where does the chorda tympani branch of the facial nerve innervate in relation to taste?

A

Anterior 2/3 of the tongue

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21
Q

Where does the glossopharyngeal nerve innervate in relation to taste?

A

Posterior 1/3 of tongue

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22
Q

Where does the vagus nerve innervate in relation to taste?

A

Areas in mouth other than tongue

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23
Q

What are the five primary tastes?

A

Salty, sour, sweet, bitter, umami

24
Q

What causes a salty taste?

A

Stimulated by chemical salts, especially sodium chloride

25
Q

How does a sour taste arise?

A

Stimulated by acids which contain free hydrogen ions

26
Q

What causes someone to taste sweetness?

A

Receptors stimulated by configuration of glucose

27
Q

What causes a bitter taste?

A

Stimulated by diverse group of tastants = alkaloids, toxic plant derivatives

28
Q

How does a umami taste arise?

A

Triggered by amino acids, especially glutamate

29
Q

Are abnormalities of taste permanent?

A

Not always = may be temporal or permanent

30
Q

What is agensia?

A

Loss of taste function = may be caused by nerve damage, local inflammation or some endocrine disorders

31
Q

What is hypogensia?

A

Reduced taste function = caused by chemotherapy or some medication

32
Q

What is dysgensia?

A

Distortion of taste function

33
Q

What are some causes of dysgensia?

A

Glossitis, gum infections, tooth decay, URTI, medication, neoplasm, chemotherapy, zinc deficiency

34
Q

Where is the olfactory mucosa?

A

Patch of mucosa in ceiling (dorsal roof) of nasal cavity

35
Q

What are the cell types contained in the olfactory mucosa?

A

Olfactory receptor cells, supporting cells, basal cells

36
Q

What is the term for the sense of smell?

A

Olfaction

37
Q

Which cells in the olfactory mucosa secrete mucus?

A

Basal cells

38
Q

What are olfactory receptors?

A

Specialised endings of renewable afferent neurons

39
Q

What is present in each olfactory receptor?

A

Each neuron has a thick short dendrite and an expanded end (called an olfactory rod)

40
Q

What projects from olfactory rods?

A

Cilia = project to surface of olfactory mucosa

41
Q

How many cilia project from each olfactory receptor neuron?

A

About 10-12 cilia per neuron

42
Q

What are odorants?

A

Molecules that can be smelled = bind to cilia

43
Q

What is the life span of olfactory receptors?

A

About 2 months

44
Q

What act as precursors for new olfactory receptors?

A

Basal cells

45
Q

What do the axons of olfactory receptors form?

A

Collectively form afferent fibres of olfactory nerve

46
Q

Where do the afferent fibres of the olfactory nerve pierce?

A

The cribriform plate of the ethmoid bone = enter olfactory bulb in inferior surface of brain

47
Q

Where do the olfactory bulbs transmit smell information to?

A

The brain

48
Q

Where do neurons pass to once they leave the olfactory bulb?

A

Pass along the olfactory tract to reach the temporal lobe and olfactory areas

49
Q

Why do odorants only reach smell receptors by diffusion during quiet breathing?

A

Olfactory mucosa is above the normal path or airflow

50
Q

Why does sniffing enhance smelling?

A

Draws air currents upwards within the nasal cavity

51
Q

What is needed for a substance to be smelled?

A

Sufficient volatility = can enter with inspired air

Sufficient water solubility = can dissolve in mucus coating olfactory mucosa

52
Q

Are olfactory receptors equally sensitive to all substances?

A

No = different sensitivity for different substances

53
Q

What is anosmia?

A

Inability to smell = may be temporal or permanent, due to viral infection, allergy, nasal polyps or head injury

54
Q

What is hyposmia?

A

Reduced ability to smell = similar causes to anosmia, may be early sign of Parkinson’s disease

55
Q

What is dysosmia?

A

Altered sense of smell = differently interpreting some smells or hallucinations of smell

ENT Medicine (22 decks)

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