Chemosensory

Chemosensory (pronunciation: /ˌkēmōˈsensərē/), derived from the Greek words 'chemia' meaning 'chemistry' and 'sensory' meaning 'pertaining to sensation', refers to the physiological processes and mechanisms related to the detection and perception of chemical substances in the environment.

Chemosensory systems are primarily responsible for the senses of taste and smell, also known as gustation and olfaction respectively. These systems allow organisms to detect chemical signals in their environment, which can be crucial for survival, reproduction, and social interaction.

Etymology

The term 'chemosensory' is a compound word derived from the Greek words 'chemia' and 'sensory'. 'Chemia' refers to the science of chemistry, which is the study of the properties, composition, and structure of substances. 'Sensory', on the other hand, pertains to the senses or sensation. Thus, 'chemosensory' essentially refers to the sensory perception of chemical substances.

Related Terms

Chemoreceptor: A sensory receptor that transduces a chemical signal into an action potential.
Olfaction: The sense of smell, which is a part of the chemosensory system.
Gustation: The sense of taste, another part of the chemosensory system.
Pheromone: A chemical substance produced and released into the environment by an animal, affecting the behavior or physiology of others of its species, often detected by the chemosensory system.
Nociception: The sensory nervous system's response to certain harmful or potentially harmful stimuli, in some cases, it can be triggered by chemicals and thus involves the chemosensory system.