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
Amerman3rd EditionHuman Anatomy & PhysiologyISBN: 9780138247201, 9780138247928, 9780138201814
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Table of contents
- Ch. 1 Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology24
- Ch. 2 The Chemistry of Life37
- Ch. 3 The Cell54
- Ch. 4 Histology46
- Ch. 5 The Integumentary System30
- Ch. 6 Bones and Bone Tissue36
- Ch. 7 The Skeletal System40
- Ch. 8 Articulations19
- Ch. 9 The Muscular System35
- Ch. 10 Muscle Tissue and Physiology29
- Ch. 11 Introduction to the Nervous System and Nervous Tissue28
- Ch. 12 The Central Nervous System41
- 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 Heart28
- Ch. 18 The Cardiovascular System II: The Blood Vessels43
- Ch. 19 Blood32
- Ch. 20 The Lymphatic System and Immunity41
- 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
Amerman3rd EditionHuman Anatomy & PhysiologyISBN: 9780138247201, 9780138247928, 9780138201814Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 15, Problem L3.1
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?
Verified step by step guidance1
Step 1: Understand the anatomy of taste sensation. Taste sensation involves the taste buds, cranial nerves, and brain regions responsible for processing taste. Since the taste buds and salivary glands are functional, the issue likely lies in the neural pathways or brain regions.
Step 2: Identify the cranial nerves involved in taste. Taste sensation is primarily carried by three cranial nerves: the facial nerve (cranial nerve VII), glossopharyngeal nerve (cranial nerve IX), and vagus nerve (cranial nerve X). Damage to any of these nerves could impair taste sensation.
Step 3: Consider the role of the facial nerve (cranial nerve VII). This nerve carries taste sensations from the anterior two-thirds of the tongue. If this nerve is impaired, taste from this region would be affected.
Step 4: Consider the role of the glossopharyngeal nerve (cranial nerve IX). This nerve carries taste sensations from the posterior one-third of the tongue. Damage to this nerve could result in loss of taste from this region.
Step 5: Evaluate the central processing of taste. Taste signals are processed in the brainstem and relayed to the gustatory cortex in the brain. Damage to the brainstem or gustatory cortex could disrupt the perception of taste even if the peripheral structures are intact.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Taste Pathways
Taste sensation is primarily transmitted through specific cranial nerves, particularly the facial nerve (VII), glossopharyngeal nerve (IX), and vagus nerve (X). These nerves carry taste information from the taste buds to the brain. If any of these pathways are damaged or impaired, it can lead to a loss of taste sensation, even if the taste buds themselves are functioning properly.
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Alternative Pathway
Central Processing of Taste
The brain processes taste information in the gustatory cortex, located in the insula and frontal operculum. Damage to this area can disrupt the perception of taste, leading to conditions such as ageusia (complete loss of taste) or dysgeusia (distorted taste). Understanding the role of the central nervous system in taste perception is crucial for diagnosing taste disorders.
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Role of Olfaction in Taste
Taste and smell are closely linked, with olfaction playing a significant role in flavor perception. The olfactory bulb processes smells that contribute to the overall taste experience. If Mr. Spencer has an impairment in his olfactory system, it could significantly affect his ability to perceive taste, even if his taste buds are intact.
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Related Practice
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
Your 60-year-old patient, Mr. Guster, has Bell's palsy, which causes dysfunction of those portions of the facial nerve that control muscles of facial expression. He is surprised when you tell him to tape the eyelids of his right eye closed at night to prevent dryness. Why might Bell's palsy cause dryness of the eye on the affected side?
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Textbook Question
In an olfactory neuron, the binding of a(n) ______ to its membrane receptor triggers a(n) _______ potential in the axons of the ______ nerve.
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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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