Question 23M.3.HL.TZ2.5
Date | May 2023 | Marks available | [Maximum mark: 5] | Reference code | 23M.3.HL.TZ2.5 |
Level | HL | Paper | 3 | Time zone | TZ2 |
Command term | Describe, Label, State | Question number | 5 | Adapted from | N/A |
Olfactory receptors are chemoreceptors in the nose that detect odorants. The diagram shows the cell organization of the main olfactory system.
On the diagram, label a chemoreceptor.
[1]
properly labelled chemoreceptor;
Accept label with lines pointing directly to any part of a receptor cell.
The majority correctly identified a chemoreceptor on the diagram.
Describe how olfactory chemoreceptors can detect different odorants.
[2]
- odorants are small/volatile molecules (with different chemical formulae);
- olfactory chemoreceptors have receptors (proteins) on surface membrane;
- each odorant attaches to its specific receptor;
It was very hard for them to describe how they could detect odorants in terms of membrane receptors and specificity.

State two types of receptors other than chemoreceptors.
1:
2:
[2]
- photoreceptor;
- proprioceptor/mechanoreceptor;
- thermoreceptor;
- baroreceptor;
If more than two receptors are written, mark only the first two.
Most could state two types of receptors, although a few used inappropriate terminology.
