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Just a clarification…
Classification systems of olfactory stimuli
Cranial nerve I does not comprise the olfactory bulb Odor Class Example of Smells like
and olfactory tract, it is the axons of the olfactory known
receptor neuron which comprise the olfactory bulb compounds
and tract. Floral Geraniol Roses
Ethereal Benzyl acetate Pears
Olfactory neuron cells are not like taste cells, they are Musky Muscone Musk
neurons. The taste cells are specialized epithelial cells. Camphor Cineole, camphor Eucalyptus
Both have short lifespan. Putrid Hydrogen Rotten eggs
sulfide
Pungent Formic acid, Vinegar
acetic acid
Cats and dogs have a strong sense of smell
Possibly the representation of olfactory receptor This was an attempt by the scientists before to classify the
neuron in the brain of cats and dogs. different olfactory sensations, but sad to say, this was not
Larger surface area of the mucous membrane enough. Current scientists have come up to about 100 to
Blessed to have a vomeronasal organ
o Contributes to the regulation of the Fact:
reproductive cycle of other mammals— Pepperminty smell is due to stimulation of nerve fibers.
sensitive to pheromones on the air
released by the opposite sex. 1,000 primary sensation from which those 10,000 odorant
molecules can be identified.
Contains 230,000,000 olfactory receptor neurons
while in humans, there are only 10 to 20.
Characteristics of olfactory molecules: They bind to olfactory receptor proteins in the cilia of the
olfactory neurons. Current scientists say that this
Volatile
classification is not enough in classifying a more than
o Transported by air
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10,000 odorant molecules which have already been STIMULUS TRANSDUCTION MECHANISM:
recognized.
Recall that the cilia contain a metabotropic receptor
which is embedded in the phospholipid membrane.
II. RECEPTOR SENSITIVITY AND ADAPTATION These receptor proteins have the ability to bind a wide
OF THE OLFACTORY RECEPTOR NEURON. range of olfactory molecules.
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The olfactory system recognizes and interprets patterns
of responses by neurons in the ascending pathways.
Different odor qualities and concentrations can be
detected by patterns of responses and not just by a
simple labeled-line mechanism (which is the case for
the somatosensory system).
Each olfactory receptor proteins bind to an array of these Why can we LOCALIZE source of odor stimuli ?
odorant molecules, which explains why we can
distinguish about 10,000 or more different odors.
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PHYSIOLOGY: TASTE & SMELL
Crude Topographic Representation of Olfactory Receptor can prevent inflow of signals from 1st order
Cells in the olfactory bulb give spatial information about neurons to 2nd order neurons.
stimuli.
Summary:
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An integrative center connecting the two 2. Neurological disorders
olfactory bulbs through the anterior such as Parkinson’s and
commissure; integration of olfactory inputs; Alzheimer’s
information-sharing
3. Olfactory tubercle
Involved in various functions of limbic
system; also receives ascending
dopaminergic inputs from the midbrains;
malfunction in this area leads to kinds of
schizophrenia.
4. Amygdala
Its corticomedial parts receive inputs from
the main and accessory olfactory bulbs;
emotional responses to olfactory stimuli.
Figure 5. Diagram of the olfactory pathway. Information is transmitted from the olfactory bulb by axons and tufted relay neurons in
5. Part of enthorhinal cortex
the lateral olfactory tract. Mitral cells project to five regions of the olfactory cortex: Anterior olfactory nucleus, olfactory tubercle,
piriform cortex, and parts of the amygdala. Conscious discrimination of odor depends on the neocortex (orbitofrontal and frontal
Receives olfactory input and projects to
hippocampus;
Involved in olfactory memories.
cortices). Emotive aspects of olfaction derive from limbic projections (amygdale and hypothalamus).
V. DISORDERS OF THE SENSE OF SMELL
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PART 2: SENSE OF TASTE a. Anterolateral portion Glossopharyngeal
b. Posterior portion Facial nerve
I. HISTOLOGY/ANATOMY
Facial nerve is more sensitive to: IV. General transduction Mechanisms by Gustatory
Sugar > Salty and sour > bitter Receptor Cells
Glossopharyngeal nerve is more sensitive to: (1) Interaction of taste stimuli with the apical
Sour and bitter > sweet and salty membrane either by:
Binding to G-protein coupled receptors
Vagus nerve is more on pharynx Modulating apically located ion channels
In regurgitation, we can actually taste it – There are 13 types of chemical receptor
so it is a somatosensory feeling. It's a real proteins in taste bud cells:
taste sensation when we feel the acid from 2 sodium receptors
our stomach to our pharynx. 2 potassium receptors
1 chloride receptor
Sensation is also sensitive to water – it is also mapped out
1 adenosine receptor
as one of the taste stimuli
1 inosine receptor
2 sweet receptors
2 butter receptors
III. Taste Thresholds and Intensity Discrimination
1 glutamate receptor
1 hydrogen ion receptor
Substance Taste Threshold
Concentration (μmol/L)
Hydrochloric acid Sour 100
Primary sensation of taste is used for
Sodium Chloride Salt 2,000
practical analysis of taste, so it can also be
Strychnine Bitter 1.6
grouped into 5 general categories
hydrochloride
Sour
Glucose Sweet 80,000
Salty
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Sweet
Bitter
Umami
2. Another mechanism:
MECHANISM FOR BITTER TASTE Activation of a truncated metabotropic
glutamate receptor (mGluR4) in the taste
There may be as many as 24 G-protein-linked bitter buds, with agonists being purine 5-
receptors in humans. Some examples below. ribonucleotides such as IMP and GMP in the
food. Mechanism of depolarization through
1. PLC/ IP3-DAG Pathway: this mechanism unsettled.
Denatonium (bitter-tasting molecule), interacts with a G-
protein-coupled receptor, which activates phospholipase
C (PLC), producing IP3 (2nd messenger). IP3 increases V. DISCRIMINATION OF TASTE QUALITY &
intracellular Ca 2+ levels, leading to release of synaptic INTENSITY
transmitter, and activation of gustatory nerve fiber.
Taste stimulus intensity discrimination is crude, Reflexes are mediated by nucleus tractus solitarius
as it takes a 30% increase in concentration before anterior insula
a difference in taste stimuli intensity is detected.
Note similarity with smell discrimination. Lesions in the anterior insula (foot of postcentral gyrus) -
a. Example: Increasing the salt we lose taste sensation
concentration by another 5%, 10% and
20%, it will remain undetected unless we VIII. DISORDERS OF THE SENSE OF TASTE:
increase it by 30%
1. Ageusia – absence of sense of taste.
2. Hypogeusia – diminished taste sensitivity
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