Chapter 13 Flashcards
Anosmia
Loss of the ability to perceive odors
Cross-adaptation
In olfaction, reduced sensitivity to odorants that are chemically or perceptually similar to odorants to which the person has been continuously or repeatedly exposed
Turbinates
Bony convolutions of tissue protruding into the nasal cavities, functioning to disperse air evenly throughout he nasal cavities
Olfactory receptor neurons
Neurons that transducer odorants molecules into neural signals
Olfactory epithelium
A patch of tissue in the upper reaches of each nasal cavity
Olfactory receptors
G-protein coupled receptors in the cilia or ORN’s
Olfactory nerve
The axons or ORN’s carrying neural signals from ORN’s to the olfactory bulb via tiny has les in the cribiform plate
Cribiform plate
The part of the skull immediately above the nasal cavity
Glomeruli
Small, more or less spherical structures in the olfactory bulb; within the glomeruli, the axons of ORN’s make synapses with the dendrites of mitral cells and tufted cells
Mitral cells
Relay neurons within the glomeruli in the olfactory bulb; the axons of mitral cells and tufted cells form the olfactory tract
Tufted cells
Relay neurons within the glomeruli in the olfactory bulb; the axons of tufted cells and mitral cells form the olfactory tract
Olfactory tract
The axons of mitral cells and tufted cells, carrying neural signals from the olfactory bulb to the higher areas of the brain
Pisiform complex
The brain region considered to be the primary olfactory cortex, because it’s the only region that both receive signals directly from the olfactory bulb and is known to be dedicated solely to olfaction
Anterior piriform cortex
The anterior portion of the piriform cortex; it produces representations of features of the chemical structure of odorant molecules
Posterior piriform complex
The posterior portion of the piriform cortex; it produces representations of the quality of an odor as a whole, regardless of whether the odor is simple or complex
Pheromone
A chemical substance emitted by individual organisms that evokes behavioral or hormonal responses in other individuals of the same species
Vomeronasal olfactory system
In many species, an olfactory system that senses pheromones; it is distinct from the main olfactory system used to smell most substances
Tastants
Molecules that taste receptors recognize and respond to by producing neural signals that the brain represents as perceptions of different tastes
Basic tastes
The five well established taste categories-sweet, salty, Unami, sour, and bitter.
Taste buds
Structures that contain taste receptor cells, within papillae in the mouth
Papillae
Tiny structures on the surfaces in the mouth, mainly on the tongue; three different types of contain taste buds
Odorants
Molecules that olfactory receptors recognize and respond by producing neural signals that the brain represents as perceptions of different odors
Umami
A basic taste evoked by tastints such as MSG and certain amino acids found in meats; generally signals the presence of protein in food.
Flavor
Total sensory experience evoked by ingesting something; in includes perception of the basic tastes, the perception of other attributes of tastants such as pleasantness and intensity
