Answered: Describe the effects of aging on smell,…

Human Anatomy & Physiology (11th Edition)

11th Edition

ISBN:9780134580999

Author:Elaine N. Marieb, Katja N. Hoehn

Publisher:Elaine N. Marieb, Katja N. Hoehn

Chapter1: The Human Body: An Orientation

Section: Chapter Questions

Problem 1RQ: The correct sequence of levels forming the structural hierarchy is A. (a) organ, organ system,...

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Related questions

Question

Describe the effects of aging on smell, taste, vision, equilibrium, and hearing.

Expert Solution

Step 1

Aging can be described as a collection of physiological changes which occur in the human body over time. Various factors lead to this dynamic change such as biological, physiological, behavioral, and more.

Step 2

Aging gives rise to declining of various biological functions, including senses.

Smell and Taste: The senses of taste and smell work together in humans. The taste buds in humans generally decrease as a result of aging. The secretion of saliva is also reduced with age, causing the dry mouth to affect taste sensation. The loss of nerve endings and less mucous production in the nose causes decreased sense of smell.
Vision: The structure such as cornea, retina, iris, and pupil changes with aging, directly affecting the vision. The other changes include a decline in cornea sensitivity, decreased pupil size, and the pupil's low reaction towards light and darkness. The eye lens also becomes less flexible and cloudy. Older people generally suffer from presbyopia which is difficulty in focusing on objects.
Equilibrium and hearing: As a person age, the ability to pick up sound decreases efficiently and the structures responsible for hearing and maintaining equilibrium starts changing in structure and functions. Presbycusis represents the condition related to hearing loss during aging. The ability to withstand high-frequency sounds decreases with time.