Chemical Senses

Front

Chemical Senses

Back

Smell

Front

Stimulation of receptor cells

Back

Causes depolarization to occur in a sensory (afferent) neuron

Front

Smell receptors

Back

Dendrites of (bipolar) sensory neurons

Front

Odorants binding to dendrites

Back

If the stimulus is strong enough, it will cause an action potential to travel to the CNS

Front

Taste receptors

Back

Specialized cells (gustatory cells) that synapse with sensory neurons

Front

Tastants binding to cells

Back

Neurotransmitters bridge the gap to sensory neurons, generating an action potential to the CNS

Front

Odorants

Back

Dissolved chemicals that stimulate olfactory neurons.

Front

Binding of Odorants

Back

Odorants bind to dendrites of olfactory receptor cells.

Front

Response to Odorants

Back

Only takes a few odorants to cause a response.

Front

Pathway of Odorants

Back

Odorants get to the olfactory organ as air is breathed into the nasal cavity.