Which type of sensory receptor is primarily responsible for smell?

The correct answer is that chemoreceptors are primarily responsible for the sense of smell. Chemoreceptors detect chemical substances in the environment, which is essential for processing olfactory information. These receptors are sensitive to airborne chemical molecules and are located in the olfactory epithelium of the nasal cavity. When these molecules bind to the chemoreceptors, they trigger a sensory response that is interpreted by the brain as distinct smells.

In contrast, photoreceptors are responsible for vision and respond to light; thermoreceptors detect temperature changes; and mechanoreceptors respond to mechanical forces such as pressure and vibration. Understanding the specific roles of these different receptors highlights the specialized nature of sensory processing in the body.