Multiple Choice
More than one choice may apply.
Cranial nerves that are part of the gustatory pathway include
a. trigeminal.
b. facial.
c. hypoglossal.
d. glossopharyngeal.
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1
Identify the cranial nerves involved in the gustatory (taste) pathway.
Recall that the gustatory pathway involves the transmission of taste information from the taste buds to the brain.
Consider the role of the facial nerve (CN VII) in carrying taste sensations from the anterior two-thirds of the tongue.
Consider the role of the glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX) in carrying taste sensations from the posterior one-third of the tongue.
Evaluate the roles of the trigeminal nerve (CN V) and hypoglossal nerve (CN XII) to determine if they are involved in taste sensation.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Gustatory Pathway
The gustatory pathway refers to the neural pathway that transmits taste information from the taste buds to the brain. This pathway involves several cranial nerves that carry sensory signals related to taste perception, allowing the brain to interpret different flavors.
Cranial nerves are a set of twelve pairs of nerves that emerge directly from the brain and brainstem. They are responsible for various sensory and motor functions, including taste, and play a crucial role in the gustatory pathway, particularly the facial (VII), glossopharyngeal (IX), and vagus (X) nerves.
Taste sensation is one of the five basic senses, allowing organisms to perceive flavors through taste buds located on the tongue. The primary tastes include sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami, and the perception of these tastes is mediated by specific cranial nerves that relay information to the brain for interpretation.