Which of the following senses require chemoreceptors?
Select all that apply Group of answer choices
audition
gustation
olfaction
vision
equilibrium
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answers are gustation and olfaction.
Explanation:
Chemoreceptors are specialized sensory receptors that detect chemical stimuli in the environment. These receptors are involved in the senses of gustation (taste) and olfaction (smell).
- Gustation (Taste):
Taste receptors on the tongue are chemoreceptors that detect chemicals dissolved in saliva. When food or drink enters the mouth, chemical molecules interact with the receptors located on taste buds. The taste buds are sensitive to five primary tastes: sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami. These chemoreceptors detect the specific chemical compositions of substances, sending signals to the brain that are interpreted as taste. - Olfaction (Smell):
Smell is also a chemosensory process. Olfactory receptors in the nasal cavity detect volatile chemical molecules (odorants) in the air. These chemicals bind to receptors in the olfactory epithelium, which are specialized chemoreceptors. The signals generated are sent to the brain, where they are processed and recognized as different smells.
Senses that do not require chemoreceptors:
- Audition (Hearing): Hearing involves mechanoreceptors, not chemoreceptors. Hair cells in the cochlea of the inner ear respond to sound vibrations and send signals to the brain. These vibrations are mechanical in nature, not chemical.
- Vision: Vision involves photoreceptors (rods and cones) in the retina, which respond to light. These are not chemoreceptors, but rather specialized for detecting electromagnetic radiation (light waves).
- Equilibrium: The sense of balance or equilibrium relies on mechanoreceptors located in the inner ear (such as the hair cells in the semicircular canals and the vestibule). These mechanoreceptors respond to mechanical changes in the position of the head relative to gravity or motion, not to chemicals.
In summary, gustation and olfaction are the senses that rely on chemoreceptors to detect chemical stimuli, while the other senses involve different types of receptors.