Question

choose one sense (Taste, Olfaction, Hearing or Vision) and describe generally how we perceive that sense. Use anatomical terms in your answer.

Next, describe the pathway from the sensory organ to the brain.

Answer 1

Taste: Cells that recognize the taste, reside in taste buds which are located on the tongue as well as the roof of the mouth. When we place food and drink in the mouth, taste cells get activated and we perceive a taste.

Taste buds are located on the tongue called papillae. Taste buds are composed of taste receptor cells. The microvilli of the taste receptor cells bear numerous taste receptors.Taste cells are surrounded by sensory nerves. When taste cells get stimulated by binding of neurotransmitters to their receptors, they get depolarized and that depolarization is transmitted to the nerve fibers and results in an action potential which is ultimately transmitted to the brain.

A large number of molecules promote taste sensations through a small number of taste receptors. Infact individual taste receptor cells contain receptors for one type of taste.