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Equine Special Senses - Horse Anatomy (view source)
Revision as of 13:22, 22 November 2012
, 13:22, 22 November 2012→Nose
==Nose==
==Nose==
Olfaction is the sense of smell, which is the ability to perceive and distinguish odours. The sense of smell is well developed in horses, as they are prey animals.
[[Image:Nasal Cavities.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Nasal Cavities - Copyright David Bainbridge]]
The nose consists of the external nares with nasal cartilages, the [[Equine Upper Respiratory Tract - Horse Anatomy#Nasal Cavity|nasal cavity]] (including the nasal meatus and conchae), and the [[Equine Upper Respiratory Tract - Horse Anatomy#Paranasal Sinuses|paranasal sinuses]. The borders of the nasal cavity are as follows:
'''Caudal''': The cribrifrom plate of the ethmoid bone.
'''Ventral''': Continuous with the nasopharynx.
'''Dorsal''': The maxilla and the palatine processes of the incisive bones.
Rostrally, the median septum is a continuation of the ethmoid bone. The median septum is made up of hyaline cartilage, and divides the [[Equine Upper Respiratory Tract - Horse Anatomy#Nasal Cavity|nasal cavity]] into left and right halves.
==Gustatory System==
==Gustatory System==
Gustation is the sense of taste, and is a system involving chemoreceptors. The gustatory system can usually detect four different types of taste: bitter, sweet, sour and salt. These tastes are detected by taste buds that are contained within papillae, which are mainly found on the dorsal surface of the tongue. These tastes are relayed from the taste buds, via the olfactory nerve ([[Equine Cranial Nerves - Horse Anatomy#Olfactory Nerve (I)|CN I]]), to the [[Equine Brain - Horse Anatomy|brain]].
Gustation is the sense of taste, and is a system involving chemoreceptors. The gustatory system can usually detect four different types of taste: bitter, sweet, sour and salt. These tastes are detected by taste buds that are contained within papillae, which are mainly found on the dorsal surface of the tongue. These tastes are relayed from the taste buds, via the olfactory nerve ([[Equine Cranial Nerves - Horse Anatomy#Olfactory Nerve (I)|CN I]]), to the [[Equine Brain - Horse Anatomy|brain]].