Chemoreceptor (Noun)
Meaning
A sensory receptor that responds to chemical stimuli.
Classification
Nouns denoting body parts.
Examples
- Taste buds on the tongue contain chemoreceptors that respond to sweet, sour, salty, and bitter tastes.
- Chemoreceptors in the nose detect odor molecules and send signals to the brain to interpret as specific smells.
- Carbon dioxide chemoreceptors in the carotid body monitor blood oxygen levels and trigger breathing when necessary.
- Oxygen-sensing chemoreceptors in the retina play a role in regulating retinal blood flow.
- Specialized chemoreceptors on the tongue allow some animals to detect toxic or poisonous substances.