Which of the following statements are true regarding olfaction? Check all that apply.

Question

Check All That Apply
Smell is a chemical sense.Smell is a chemical sense.
Odorant molecules dissolve in mucus before stimulating a receptor.Odorant molecules dissolve in mucus before stimulating a receptor.
Humans can only distinguish up to 200 odors.Humans can only distinguish up to 200 odors.
Olfactory receptors have hairs on the apical surface that respond to stimuli.Olfactory receptors have hairs on the apical surface that respond to stimuli.
When olfactory receptors are stimulated, the response is referred to as "gustation."When olfactory receptors are stimulated, the response is referred to as "gustation."

Answer 1

The following statements are true regarding olfaction:

1. Smell is a chemical sense. - True
2. Odorant molecules dissolve in mucus before stimulating a receptor. - True
3. Olfactory receptors have hairs on the apical surface that respond to stimuli. - True

The other statements are false:

• Humans can only distinguish up to 200 odors. - False (Humans can distinguish thousands of different odors.)
• When olfactory receptors are stimulated, the response is referred to as "gustation." - False (The response is referred to as olfaction, while "gustation" refers to the sense of taste.)