PSYC 369 Chapter Notes - Chapter 15: Olfactory Mucosa, Olfactory Receptor, Nasal Cavity
19 Oct 2015
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Document Summary
Smell involves taking molecules into your body, which is one of the properties of chemical senses that distinguishes them from other senses. Smell/olfaction and taste are called molecule detectors because they endow gas and liquid molecules with distinctive smells and tastes. The taste system: taste occurs when molecules enter the mouth in solid or liquid form and stimulate taste receptors on the tongues. Functions of taste: acts as gatekeeper by connection between taste quality and a substance"s effect, sweetness is associated with compounds with nutritive or caloric value and are important for sustaining life. Cause an automatic acceptance response and trigger anticipatory metabolic responses that prepare the gi system for processing them: bitter compounds trigger automatic rejection responses to help the organism avoid harmful substances. Example: poison: salty tastes indicate sodium. When people are deprived of sodium or lose it through sweat, they eat salty foods to replenish the salt their body needs.
