Textbook Question
Why do you have the sensation that you are still spinning immediately after stopping?
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Ch. 15 The Special Senses
Amerman2nd EditionHuman Anatomy & PhysiologyISBN: 9780136873822
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Table of contents
- Ch. 1 Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology26
- Ch. 2 The Chemistry of Life38
- Ch. 3 The Cell55
- Ch. 4 Histology47
- Ch. 5 The Integumentary System30
- Ch. 6 Bones and Bone Tissue36
- Ch. 7 The Skeletal System40
- Ch. 8 Articulations19
- Ch. 9 The Muscular System36
- Ch. 10 Muscle Tissue and Physiology29
- Ch. 11 Introduction to the Nervous System and Nervous Tissue28
- Ch. 12 The Central Nervous System42
- Ch. 13 The Peripheral Nervous System41
- Ch. 14 The Autonomic Nervous System and Homeostasis31
- Ch. 15 The Special Senses39
- Ch. 16 The Endocrine System42
- Ch. 17 The Cardiovascular System I: The Heart30
- Ch. 18 The Cardiovascular System II: The Blood Vessels43
- Ch. 19 Blood32
- Ch. 20 The Lymphatic System and Immunity45
- Ch. 21 The Respiratory System27
- Ch. 22 The Digestive System27
- Ch. 23 Metabolism and Nutrition7
- Ch. 24 The Urinary System39
- Ch. 25 Fluid, Electrolyte, and Acid-Base Homeostasis39
- Ch. 26 The Reproductive System10
- Ch. 27 Development and Heredity5
Chapter 15, Problem 3
In an olfactory neuron, the binding of a(n) ______ to its membrane receptor triggers a(n) _______ potential in the axons of the ______ nerve.
Verified step by step guidance1
Step 1: Understand the anatomy of the olfactory system. Olfactory neurons are specialized sensory neurons located in the olfactory epithelium of the nasal cavity. These neurons detect odor molecules and transmit signals to the brain via the olfactory nerve.
Step 2: Identify the first blank. The binding of a specific molecule, known as an odorant, to the membrane receptor of the olfactory neuron initiates the process of olfactory signal transduction.
Step 3: Identify the second blank. The binding of the odorant to the receptor triggers a graded electrical response in the neuron, known as a receptor potential. This is a type of local potential that occurs in response to the stimulus.
Step 4: Identify the third blank. The axons of the olfactory neurons bundle together to form the olfactory nerve (cranial nerve I), which transmits the signal to the olfactory bulb in the brain.
Step 5: Summarize the process. The odorant binds to its receptor on the olfactory neuron, triggering a receptor potential, which then propagates along the axons of the olfactory nerve to relay the sensory information to the brain.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Olfactory Neurons
Olfactory neurons are specialized sensory cells located in the nasal cavity that detect odor molecules. They possess receptors that bind to specific odorants, initiating a signal transduction pathway. This process is crucial for the sense of smell, as it converts chemical signals from the environment into electrical signals that can be interpreted by the brain.
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The Neuron
Receptor Binding
Receptor binding refers to the interaction between a signaling molecule, such as an odorant, and a specific receptor on the surface of a cell. This binding event is essential for activating the receptor, leading to a series of biochemical changes within the neuron. In olfactory neurons, this process ultimately results in the generation of an action potential, which transmits the sensory information.
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Action Potential
An action potential is a rapid, temporary change in the electrical membrane potential of a neuron, allowing it to transmit signals along its axon. When an olfactory neuron is activated by receptor binding, it depolarizes, leading to the generation of an action potential. This electrical signal travels to the brain, where it is processed and interpreted as a specific smell.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question
Mr. Spencer suffers loss of taste sensation. Tests reveal that his taste buds and salivary glands are functional. What other structures might be impaired that would explain his loss of taste?
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Textbook Question
If a patient suffers visual impairment only in one eye, why must the damage be located in the visual pathway prior to the optic chiasma?
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Textbook Question
Explain what would happen to your sense of smell if there were no basal cells present in the olfactory epithelium.
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Textbook Question
Your friend tells you that she has just been diagnosed with myopia, and she wonders if staring at her computer screen too much might have caused her problem. What do you tell her?
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Textbook Question
Mrs. Flores is a 45-year-old female who suffered a fracture of the ethmoid bone as the result of a car accident. Several days later, she complained that she couldn't taste her food very well. How is her injury related to the loss of taste sensation?
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