THE COPPERBELT UNIVERSITY
SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
QUESTION: IN A TABLE FORMAT, COMPARE AND CONTRAST
SMELL AND TASTE. HOW DO THEY INTERACT?
GROUP: 26
YEAR: 3RD
COURSE: PHYSIOLOGY
TASK: NEUROPHYSIOLOGY ASSAIGNMENT
LECTURER: DR MUSHABATI
GROUP MEMBERS:
SIN NAME PROGRAM
14496073 Phiri Tiyamike MBChB
14344323 Phiri Zingiwe MBChB
15100159 Puta Chisanga BSc CM
14620177 Sakala Chikondi MBChB
14574462 Sakala Davy MBChB
14618135 Sakala Gift MBChB
DUE DATE: 28TH APRIL, 2017
FEATURE TASTE SMELL
Definition Special chemical sense Special Chemical sense
Sense Organ Taste buds Olfactory epithelium in the Nasal cavity
Epithelium Consists of supporting cells with Consists of supporting cells, basal cells
microvilli, basal cells and receptor and receptor cells with microvilli
cells with cillia
Stimulants Tastants (dissolved in saliva) Odorant molecules (dissolved in mucus in
the nasal cavity)
Nature of Ligand gated channels (inotropic All olfactory receptors are G-coupled
receptors receptors) and G-coupled receptors receptors
(metabotropic receptors)
Adaptation Chemoreceptors are also rapidly Olfactory receptors are phasic and adapt
adapted. very rapidly.
Transduction Differs according to tastant. -Conversion of chemical signal into
Bitter electrical signal.
increase in IP3 or Ca2+ which -Odorants bind to receptors coupled with
stimulates the realease of a adenylyl cyclase via G protein.
neurotransmitter or -Conversion of GTP to cAMP occurs.
Blocks K+ channel to cause -Increase in Camp causes Na+ to open
depolarization. which causes depolarization of the
Sweet membrane
increases cAMP which blocks K+ -Action Potential is then generated and
channels. propagated along the olfactory nerve to
Sour-blocks K+ channels. the olfactory bulb.
Salty- enters through the Na+
channels
Pathways
Primary Sour taste, Salty taste, Sweet taste, Camphoraceous, Musky, Floral,
sensations Bitter taste, Umami taste Pepperminty, Ethereal, Pungent, Putrid
Innervation Facialnerve(CNVII),Glossopharng Olfactory nerve (CNI)
eal nerve(CNIX), Vagus
nerve(CNX)
Pathology
Ageusia (absence of sense Anosmia (absence of sense of
of taste) smell)
Hypogeusia (decreased Hyposmia (impaired sense of
sense of taste) smell)
Dysgeusia (distorted sense Dysosmia (distorted sense of
of taste) smell)
SIMILARITIES
1 Both taste and smell are intimately entwined. Ultimately messages about taste and smell converse
allowing us to detect the flavors of food.
2 They bosth give us pleasure and pain.
3 They both warn us of dangers such as fire, poisonous fumes and spoiled foods.
4 They contribute to our enjoyment of life by stimulating a desire to eat which not only nourishes our
bodies but also enhances our social activities.
REFERENCES
Ganong, W.F, (2005), Review of Medical Physiology, 22nd edition, McGraw Hill, New Delhi.
Guyton, A.C and Hall, J.E, (2006), Textbook of Medical Physiology, 11th edition, Elsevier
Saunders, Philadelphia.
Sembulingum, K. and Sembulingum, P. (2012), Essentials of Medical Physiology, 6th edition,
Jaypee, New Delhi.
Netter, F.H, Atlas of Human Anatomy, 5th edition, Elsevier Saunders, Philadelphia.
Barret K.E, Barman S.M, Boitano S, Brooks H.L, 2012, Ganong’s review of medical
physiology, 24th edition.
Hutchins M.O, 2017, Neuroscience online: an electronic textbook for the neurosciences
chapter 09.
Constanzo, L.S. Physiology. 5th ed.. USA: saunders. 2014.