The Effect of Smell on Taste

By Kesav R.Dale T.

Daniel F.And

Mike P.

The Olfactory System

• Olfactory receptors line nasal epithelium, axon extends through pores in bones of skull, dendrite has branches, olfactory cilia that contain receptor proteins for odorants, protected by a thin layer of mucus

Olfactory System

• Receptors send axons to olfactory bulb, in primates lies over nose, in other vertebrates posterior to nose

• Axons from olfactory bulb enter brain via olfactory tract, project to primary olfactory cortex or pyriform cortex on anterioventral of anterioventral of telencephalon, no passage through thalamus

Taste

• Taste is one of the five senses used by the brain to distinguish certain aspects of the natural world, and discern poisons and unhealthy foods

• The main instrument used to taste is the tongue

• However, recognition and memory also plays a role in taste

The Tongue

• The tongue has clusters of taste-receptor cells in taste buds.

• Taste buds are organized into five groups of sensors:

BitterSourSweetSaltyUmami

Taste Buds

• Gustatory receptors found on the tongue, throat, and oral lining (primarily the cheeks)

• Taste pores cluster together to form taste buds

• Each receptor is connected through a synapse to at least one sensory neuron leading to the back of the brain

How Is Flavor Recognized?

• Collaboration of taste, smell, and the brain

• Sensed by taste sensations, food temperature, texture, and odor.

What Causes Smell and Taste Disorders?

• Aging or birth defects

• Several other causes such as laryngitis and smoking

Disturbance of Smell

• Transport olfactory loss

• Sensory olfactory losses

• Others including specific anosmia and and partial anosmia

Effects of Disorders

• Loss of senses

• Loss of ability to distinguish flavor

How to Diagnose Disorders

• Several easy tests, such as the “scratch-and-sniff” test and the “sip, spit and rinse” test.

Medication

• Several treatments to improve conditions

• No proper medication

Bibliography• Jacob, Tim. “Taste- A Brief Tutorial.” http://www.cf.ac.uk/biosci/staff/jacob/te

aching/sensory/taste.html. Accessed 4/25/04.• Encyclopaedia Encarta. “The Tongue.”

http://www.encarta.com. Accessed 4/23/04.• Anonymous. “The Sense of Taste.

http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultrauet/BiologyPages/T/Taste.htm. Accessed 4/22/04.

• Anonymous. “Smell and Taste Disorders.”

http://www.entnet.org/healthinfo/topics/smell_taste.cfm. Accessed 4/19/04.