Chapter 12 – The Senses and the Microbiome

Where is the umami receptor located on the tongue?

Scattered throughout the entire tongue

Define somatic sense

Somatic senses are on more than one region of the body.

What is the function of the pupil?

- Allows light into your eye

What is the function of the cornea?

- Protecting the eye from outside infiltrates and ultraviolet radiation - Responsible for approximately 65% to 75% of the refraction of light as it passes through the eye

What is the function of the iris?

- Regulates the amount of light that can enter the retina by changing the size of your pupil - Gives you your eye color

What is the function of the eye lens?

- To transmit and focus light onto the retina - To facilitate this, it contains one of the highest concentrations of proteins of any tissue.

How do you taste?

Food chemicals must be dissolved in saliva to be detected by the taste hairs

Define special sense

Special senses are located in a specific area of the body.

What are the 5 special senses?

Taste, Smell, Hearing, Balance, and Sight

What are the 4 somatic senses?

Temperature , Pressure, Pain, and Touch

Where is the bitter receptor located on the tongue?

The back

Does diversity of the gut microbiome appear to be important?

The gut makes many neurotransmitters including over 90% of the serotonin made in our body, which helps with immunity. More Diverse = More Immunity

Where is the sour receptor located on the tongue?

The sides

What would happen if you dried your tongue and place some sugar on the tip?

The sugar on the dry tongue has no taste and does not taste sweet at all. This is because you lack saliva.

Where is the sweet receptor located on the tongue?

The tip

Where is the salty receptor located on the tongue?

The tip and the sides

Is the microbiome important to our over health including the nervous system?

There is evidence that there is a vital link between the colon's/large intestine's microbiome and the brain's microbiome. There may be an implication of microbiome playing a role in diseases such as dementia, anxiety, depression, autism and many others.

Pathway of sight:

cornea - pupil/iris - lens - retina (rods and cones) - fovea - optic nerve

What are the 5 main tastes found on the tongue?

sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami (savory)