4.5 Olfaction and Gustation

Question 1

What are some different parts of the primary olfactory cortex?

Answer 1

Piriform cortex
(card has been adjusted)

Question 2

What are three secondary targets of the olfactory system? (Remember the picture)

Answer 2

• Amygdala (emotional aspects)
• Hippocampus (memory)
• Orbitofrontal cortex (conscious perception)

Question 3

What are some factors that can cause changes/loss of smell?

Answer 3

• Common cold/sinus infection
• TBI
• Neurodegenerative disease
• Temporal lobe epilepsy

Question 4

What are the five basic tastes?

Answer 4

• Sweet
• Sour
• Salty
• Bitter
• Umami

Question 5

What are the three forms of papillae involved in taste

Answer 5

• Fungiform
• Foliate
• Circumvallate

Question 6

Describe the shape/location of fungiform papillae

Answer 6

• Mushroom shaped
• Found on tip and sides of tongue

Question 7

Describe the neuronal pathway of taste information

Answer 7

• Sensory info in CNs VII, IX, and X
• Travels to solitary nucleus in medulla
• VPM nucleus in Thalamus
• Primary gustatory cortex (between insula and parietal lobe)

(Ipsilateral; remember the old married couple?)

Question 8

Describe the shape/location of foliate papillae

Answer 8

“Foldiate”
- Short vertical folds on the posterior tongue

Question 9

Describe the shape/location of circumvallate papillae

Answer 9

8-12 domes on posterior tongue

Question 10

How often are tongue cells replaced?

Answer 10

10-14 days (diligent old woman)

Question 11

Are taste receptor cells neurons?

Answer 11

• No; they’re modified skin cells
• They synapse with neurons, though, which is how they function