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Related Concept Videos

Physiology of Smell and Olfactory Pathway01:20

Physiology of Smell and Olfactory Pathway

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...
Olfaction01:25

Olfaction

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...
Olfactory Receptors: Location and Structure01:03

Olfactory Receptors: Location and Structure

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...
Introduction to Special Senses01:26

Introduction to Special Senses

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 functions.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 20, 2026

Simple and Computer-assisted Olfactory Testing for Mice
06:40

Simple and Computer-assisted Olfactory Testing for Mice

Published on: June 15, 2015

Sex differences in the human olfactory system.

Alicia Garcia-Falgueras1, Carme Junque, Mónica Giménez

  • 1Departamento de Psicobiologia, UNED, C/ Juan del Rosal 10, Madrid 28040, Spain.

Brain Research
|September 1, 2006
PubMed
Summary

The human olfactory system shows significant sex differences in brain structure, impacting reproductive physiology and behavior. These findings reveal distinct patterns of gray matter concentration between men and women in key olfactory regions.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Neuroanatomy
  • Human Physiology

Background:

  • The mammalian olfactory system plays a crucial role in reproductive physiology and behavior.
  • This system exhibits sexual dimorphism, with sex-based differences in neural circuits related to sexual behavior and physiology.
  • These differences manifest in two primary morphological patterns: male-greater-than-female (M>F) or female-greater-than-male (F>M).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate and report sex differences in the human olfactory system using voxel-based morphology.
  • To identify specific olfactory brain regions exhibiting sexual dimorphism in gray matter concentration.
  • To provide a morphofunctional framework for understanding sex differences in the human brain's olfactory network.

Main Methods:

  • Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) analysis was employed.
  • A large, homogeneous sample of 40 men and 51 women was studied.
  • Gray matter concentration differences were statistically analyzed across olfactory regions.

Main Results:

  • Significant sexual dimorphism in gray matter concentration was observed in multiple olfactory regions.
  • Women exhibited higher gray matter concentration in the orbitofrontal cortex (Brodmann's areas 10, 11, 25), temporomedial cortex (hippocampus, amygdala), and left basal insular cortex.
  • Men showed higher gray matter concentration in the left entorhinal cortex (Brodmann's area 28), right ventral pallidum, dorsal left insular cortex, and a region of the orbitofrontal cortex (Brodmann's area 25).

Conclusions:

  • The mammalian olfactory system is a sexually dimorphic network in humans.
  • These structural differences contribute to sex-specific variations in olfactory-related functions.
  • The findings support a morphofunctional approach to understanding brain sex differences.