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Related Concept Videos

Olfaction01:25

Olfaction

49.0K
The sense of smell is achieved through the activities of the olfactory system. It starts when an airborne odorant enters the nasal cavity and reaches olfactory epithelium (OE). The OE is protected by a thin layer of mucus, which also serves the purpose of dissolving more complex compounds into simpler chemical odorants. The size of the OE and the density of sensory neurons varies among species; in humans, the OE is only about 9-10 cm2.
The olfactory receptors are embedded in the cilia of the...
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The Cochlea01:13

The Cochlea

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The cochlea is a coiled structure in the inner ear that contains hair cells—the sensory receptors of the auditory system. Sound waves are transmitted to the cochlea by small bones attached to the eardrum called the ossicles, which vibrate the oval window that leads to the inner ear. This causes fluid in the chambers of the cochlea to move, vibrating the basilar membrane.
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Physiology of Smell and Olfactory Pathway01:20

Physiology of Smell and Olfactory Pathway

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Humans detect odors with the help of specialized cells located in the upper part of the nasal cavity, called olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs). ORNs possess hair-like structures called cilia, which are receptive to sensations from the inhaled air. When an odorant molecule binds to a specific receptor on the cell of the cilia, it leads to a series of events that ultimately cause the ORN to send electrical signals to the olfactory bulb in the brain through the olfactory nerves.
The olfactory...
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Olfactory Receptors: Location and Structure01:03

Olfactory Receptors: Location and Structure

12.0K
The process of olfaction, also known as the sense of smell, is a sophisticated chemical response system. The specialized sensory neurons that facilitate this process, known as olfactory receptor neurons, are situated in an upper segment of the nasal cavity, known as the olfactory epithelium. Olfactory sensory neurons are bipolar, with their dendrites extending from the epithelium's apex into the mucus that lines the nasal cavity. Airborne molecules, when inhaled, traverse the olfactory...
12.0K
G-Protein Gated Ion Channels01:21

G-Protein Gated Ion Channels

5.9K
GPCRs are primarily responsible for our sense of smell, taste, and vision.  The binding of a sensory stimulus activates GPCR to stimulate effector proteins, many of which are ion channels in the sensory organs. GPCRs modulate the opening and closing of the target ion channels either directly by binding them, or by releasing second messengers that activate these channels. As ions move across the membrane, the membrane potential is altered, which induces an appropriate response.
Sensory...
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Introduction to Special Senses01:26

Introduction to Special Senses

7.8K
Sensory receptors play an integral part in comprehending our external and internal environments. They receive diverse stimuli, converting them into the nervous system's electrochemical signals. This conversion occurs as the stimulus alters the sensory neuron's cell membrane potential, instigating the generation of an action potential. This action potential is subsequently transmitted to the central nervous system (CNS), which integrates with other sensory data or higher cognitive...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 20, 2026

Real-time In Vitro Monitoring of Odorant Receptor Activation by an Odorant in the Vapor Phase
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Real-time In Vitro Monitoring of Odorant Receptor Activation by an Odorant in the Vapor Phase

Published on: April 23, 2019

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Olfactory receptors and odor coding in mammals.

Linda B Buck1

  • 1Basic Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, USA.

Nutrition Reviews
|January 6, 2005
PubMed
Summary

Mammals use a large family of olfactory receptors to detect odors, with individual scents activating specific receptor combinations. This creates complex codes for odor identification and processing in the brain.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Olfactory receptor research
  • Mammalian sensory systems

Background:

  • Mammals possess a vast repertoire of olfactory receptors, with approximately 350 in humans and 1000 in mice.
  • Individual odorants activate unique combinations of these receptors, forming combinatorial codes that define odor identity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the mechanisms by which mammals perceive a wide array of odors.
  • To describe the neural pathways involved in olfactory processing from receptor activation to cortical representation.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of olfactory receptor families in humans and mice.
  • Investigation of sensory neuron projections to the olfactory bulb.
  • Examination of secondary projections from the olfactory bulb to the cortex.

More Related Videos

Live-cell Measurement of Odorant Receptor Activation Using a Real-time cAMP Assay
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Live-cell Measurement of Odorant Receptor Activation Using a Real-time cAMP Assay

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Perforated Patch-clamp Recording of Mouse Olfactory Sensory Neurons in Intact Neuroepithelium: Functional Analysis of Neurons Expressing an Identified Odorant Receptor
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Perforated Patch-clamp Recording of Mouse Olfactory Sensory Neurons in Intact Neuroepithelium: Functional Analysis of Neurons Expressing an Identified Odorant Receptor

Published on: July 13, 2015

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Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Feb 20, 2026

Real-time In Vitro Monitoring of Odorant Receptor Activation by an Odorant in the Vapor Phase
09:53

Real-time In Vitro Monitoring of Odorant Receptor Activation by an Odorant in the Vapor Phase

Published on: April 23, 2019

7.5K
Live-cell Measurement of Odorant Receptor Activation Using a Real-time cAMP Assay
09:11

Live-cell Measurement of Odorant Receptor Activation Using a Real-time cAMP Assay

Published on: October 2, 2017

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Perforated Patch-clamp Recording of Mouse Olfactory Sensory Neurons in Intact Neuroepithelium: Functional Analysis of Neurons Expressing an Identified Odorant Receptor
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Perforated Patch-clamp Recording of Mouse Olfactory Sensory Neurons in Intact Neuroepithelium: Functional Analysis of Neurons Expressing an Identified Odorant Receptor

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  • Study of the vomeronasal organ and its distinct receptor families.

    • Main Results:

    • Olfactory receptors generate combinatorial codes for odorant identification.
    • Sensory neurons expressing a single receptor type form stereotyped maps in the olfactory bulb.
    • Cortical projections create a second, different map, potentially integrating receptor inputs.
    • The vomeronasal organ detects pheromones, influencing hormonal and behavioral responses via separate neural pathways.

    Conclusions:

    • The combinatorial activation of olfactory receptors is fundamental to odor perception.
    • Stereotyped neural maps at different brain levels facilitate olfactory information processing.
    • The vomeronasal organ represents a parallel system for detecting pheromones and mediating innate responses.