Question 1

The _______ contains the receptor cells for the vestibular system.

Accepted Answer

The ampulla contains the receptor cells for the vestibular system, which is responsible for sensing the body's position and movement in space. The vestibular nuclei are a group of neurons in the brainstem that receive input from the vestibular system, but they do not contain the receptor cells themselves. The organ of Corti is part of the auditory system, which is not related to the vestibular system. The pinna is the external part of the ear that helps to collect and direct sound waves towards the ear canal, and is also not related to the vestibular system.

Question 2

Which event signals the brain that the head has moved?

Accepted Answer

The deflection of stereocilia in the ampulla signals the brain that the head has moved. The semicircular canals contain ampullae, which are specialized structures that respond to rotational acceleration. When the head turns, the fluid in the semicircular canals lags behind, causing the cilia in the ampulla to bend. This bending of the hair cells triggers the release of neurotransmitters, which signals the brain that the head has moved.

Question 3

Vestibular nuclei in the brainstem receive information from

Accepted Answer

Vestibular nuclei in the brainstem receive information from the vestibular organs, which include the semicircular canals and the otolith organs. The ampulla and the vestibular hair cells are specific components of the vestibular organs, while the basilar membrane is part of the cochlea in the inner ear and involved in hearing rather than balance.

Question 4

Sensory conflict theory argues that we feel badly when we receive contradictory sensory messages. Passengers on an airplane in turbulence may experience an uncomfortable conflict between _______ and _______ information.

Accepted Answer

The vestibular system is responsible for sensing changes in motion and orientation, and can cause motion sickness or discomfort in situations where the body senses movement but the eyes do not see corresponding movement. In the case of turbulence on an airplane, the vestibular system is sensing movement but the visual system may not perceive it, leading to a sensory conflict between vestibular and visual information.

Question 5

_______ is the experience of nausea brought on by unnatural passive movement.

Accepted Answer

Motion sickness is the experience of nausea brought on by unnatural passive movement. Conduction motion is not a commonly used term in this context. Sensorineural movement is not a recognized term. Motion shadows is not a known term in this context.

Question 6

The vestibular system informs the brain about

Accepted Answer

The vestibular system is responsible for detecting and maintaining our sense of balance, which is achieved through sensing the movement and position of the body.

Question 7

Which is not a type of taste papillae?

Accepted Answer

Turbinate is not a type of taste papillae. The other three options - Foliate, Fungiform, and Circumvallate - are all types of taste papillae found on the tongue.

Question 8

The _______ of the tongue contain taste _______, which are made up of taste _______.

Accepted Answer

The correct answer is D) papillae; buds; receptor cells. The papillae of the tongue contain taste buds, which are made up of taste receptor cells. These structures are essential for the perception of taste.

Question 9

People perceive sweet

Accepted Answer

Sweet taste can be perceived anywhere on the tongue where there are taste receptors. While some areas may be more sensitive to sweetness than others, it is not localized to just one area of the tongue.

Question 10

Which is not typically considered one of the basic tastes?

Accepted Answer

Fruity is not typically considered one of the basic tastes. The basic tastes are sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami. Fruity is often associated with aroma and flavor rather than a distinct taste.

Question 11

Humans have evolved a high sensitivity to _______ taste.

Accepted Answer

Humans have evolved a high sensitivity to bitter taste as a defense mechanism to detect potentially toxic substances, many of which are bitter.

Question 12

The sweet taste is mediated by

Accepted Answer

Sweet taste is mediated by slow, metabotropic receptors, which are G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) that initiate a cascade of cellular events leading to the perception of sweetness.

Question 13

Salty taste is mediated by

Accepted Answer

Salty taste is produced by the presence of sodium and chloride ions in food. These ions bind to specific receptors on taste cells and send signals to the brain indicating a salty taste. Other options listed (A, C, D) are associated with other taste sensations (sour, umami, and bitter, respectively).

Question 14

One of the reasons that monosodium glutamate is used as a flavor enhancer is that

Accepted Answer

Monosodium glutamate activates the umami receptor, which responds to savory or meaty flavors, enhancing the overall taste of food.

Question 15

Which correctly shows the pathway that taste information follows in the gustatory pathway?

Accepted Answer

The gustatory pathway starts with the tongue, where taste receptors are located. From there, taste information travels along cranial nerves to reach the brainstem nuclei. The information then passes through the thalamus before reaching the somatosensory cortex, which is responsible for processing sensory information related to taste, touch, and temperature. Therefore, the correct pathway is tongue, brainstem nuclei, thalamus, somatosensory cortex, which is represented by option D.

Question 16

The _______ system is the sensory system that detects taste.

Accepted Answer

The gustatory system is responsible for detecting taste. The other options listed are components of the gustatory system - circumvallate papillae are larger papillae found at the back of the tongue, umami is one of the five basic tastes detected by the gustatory system, and papillae are small protrusions on the tongue that contain taste buds.

Question 17

Researchers have recently discovered taste receptors in various tissues throughout the human body, far from the head. The function of these receptors is largely unknown, but they may play a role in

Accepted Answer

The discovery of taste receptors in various tissues throughout the body suggests that they may play a role in appetite and digestion, as taste is closely linked to these processes.

Question 18

The olfactory epithelium contains all the following types of cells except _______ cells.

Accepted Answer

The olfactory epithelium contains basal cells, receptor cells, and supporting cells, but it does not contain glomerular cells. Glomerular cells are actually found in the olfactory bulb, which is the structure that receives input from the olfactory receptor neurons in the olfactory epithelium.

Question 19

The prepyriform cortex is also known as the

Accepted Answer

The prepyriform cortex is another name for the primary olfactory cortex, which is responsible for processing olfactory information (sense of smell). The amygdala is a nearby structure that plays a role in processing emotional information related to odors. The orbitofrontal cortex is a higher-order brain region that is also involved in olfactory processing, but it is not synonymous with the prepyriform cortex. The occipital lobe is involved in visual processing and not related to olfaction.

Question 20

Olfactory neurons have the capacity to regenerate in adulthood, while brain neurons do not. Why is it thought olfactory neurons adapted this function?

Accepted Answer

Olfactory neurons have the capacity to regenerate in adulthood as a response to the hazards of the olfactory environment. The olfactory system is designed to detect and avoid harmful chemicals, and thus the ability to regenerate is necessary for the system to continue functioning properly despite exposure to such substances.

Quiz 7: Hearing, Balance, Taste, and Smell