Olfaction

Nose
Sense of smell
Occurs in response to airborne molecules called
odorants
Consists of Olfactory Neurons

Olfactory Neurons
Bipolar neurons within the Olfactory Epithelium
Dendrites of the Olfactory Neurons extends to the
epithelial surface and the ends are modified with long cilia
that lie in a thin mucus film

Odorants
a substance giving off a smell, especially one used to give a
particular scent or odour to a product
Airborne Odorants become dissolved in the mucus on the
surface of the epithelium and bind to receptor molecules on the
membranes of the specialized cilia
The binding of the odorant to the receptor initiates action
potentials, which are then conducted to the olfactory cortex of
the Cerebrum by sensory neurons
There are at least 400 Olfactory receptors in human.

Neural Pathways
for Olfaction

Taste
Tongue
the sensation of flavor perceived in the mouth and throat
on contact with a substance.
Taste buds
Divided into 5 BASIC types namely: SWEET, SOUR,
SALTY, BITTER, UMAMI. They are the reason why we
can perceive many diff. tastes

Taste buds
Are sensory structures that detect taste stimuli
Oval shaped structures located in the surface of the
tongue.
Can also be found in the diff. areas of the mouth and
pharynx
Consists of 2 types of cells, Specialized Epithelial
Cells (Exterior supporting capsule of each taste bud) and
Taste cells (Interior supporting capsule)

Taste Cells
Contains hair like processes called taste hairs
Taste hairs extend into a tiny opening in the surrounding
stratified epithelium called a taste pore

Neural Pathways
for Taste