Senses: Smell and Taste

1. Senses: Smell and Taste Ch. 17-1

2. Part 1 – Olfaction: Sense of Smell • Anatomy • 3 types of cells • Olfactory receptors – detect the smell and initiate the signal to the brain • Supporting cells – provide physical support, nourishment, and insulation for receptors • Basal cells – make supporting cells • Bowman’s glands • Secrete mucus that moistens olfactory area (boogers)

3. Hyposmia • Reduced ability to smell • Affects half of people over age 65 and 75% of people over age 80 • Women smell better than men, especially during ovulation • Smoking can impair the sense of smell

4. Part 2 – Gustation: Sense of Taste • Only 5 primary tastes • Sour, sweet, bitter, salty, umami (meaty or savory) • all flavors are combinations of these tastes • Olfactory and gustatory senses are closely linked – like when you have a cold and food doesn’t taste the same • It is your smell that actually isn’t working properly

5. Gustation Anatomy – p. 470 • Taste bud – oval body consisting of cells • Papillae – covered in taste buds • Vallate papillae – 12 very large, circular areas • Fungiform papillae – mushroom-shaped elevations scattered over area of tongue • Foliate papillae – small trenches on tongue – most taste buds are gone by childhood • Filiform papillae – no taste buds – just add friction to tongue making chewing and moving food easier

6. Taste