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Medicine LibreTexts

9: Sensation and Perception- The Chemical Senses

  • Page ID
    151255
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    • 9.1: Introduction
      This page explores the chemical senses of smell and taste, emphasizing their activation by specific substances and their interconnection, particularly how smell enhances taste. It also covers internal chemosensory systems that regulate chemical levels crucial for homeostasis, linking these functions to the autonomic nervous system. Overall, this chapter enriches previous discussions on sensory perception by detailing our interaction with the environment through these senses.
    • 9.2: Olfactory System
      This page explores the vital role of olfaction in memory and emotion, detailing how odors impact behavior and survival through specialized olfactory pathways. It explains the processing of olfactory signals in various brain regions, including the entorhinal and orbitofrontal cortices, and poses questions about human pheromones.
    • 9.3: Gustatory System
      This page covers the gustatory system, detailing five taste modalities: salty, sweet, sour, bitter, and umami, and their roles in food selection and energy intake. It explains the anatomy involved, including taste buds and nerve pathways, and notes how sensitivities vary across the tongue. The evolutionary implications of taste preferences are highlighted, particularly how bitter signals toxicity and the benefits of umami for cooked food.
    • 9.4: Internal Chemosensory Systems
      This page explains how the body's chemosensory systems contribute to homeostasis by monitoring internal chemical levels. It focuses on the neural control of respiration, detailing how the medulla and specific nerves adjust breathing rates in response to CO2 and blood pH changes.
    • 9.5: References


    This page titled 9: Sensation and Perception- The Chemical Senses is shared under a CC BY-NC 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Austin Lim via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform.