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Related Concept Videos

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...
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...
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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 11, 2026

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

Simple and Computer-assisted Olfactory Testing for Mice

Published on: June 15, 2015

Office procedures for quantitative assessment of olfactory function.

Richard L Doty1

  • 1Smell and Taste Center, Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA. doty@mail.med.upenn.edu

American Journal of Rhinology
|September 22, 2007
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Quantifying olfactory function is now accessible for rhinologists using practical clinical tests. Nasal disease impacts smell through neuroepithelial changes, not just airway obstruction.

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Area of Science:

  • Otolaryngology
  • Neuroscience
  • Sensory Science

Background:

  • The sense of smell is crucial for flavor perception and environmental hazard detection.
  • Rhinologists often overlook the importance of olfactory function.
  • Olfactory dysfunction significantly impacts quality of life.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To describe practical methods for measuring olfactory function in clinical settings.
  • To review common olfactory tests and their applications.
  • To discuss the relationship between nasosinus disorders and olfactory function.

Main Methods:

  • Description of basic issues in practical olfactory function measurement.
  • Presentation of odor identification and detection paradigms.
  • Review of 27 clinical olfactory tests, detailing strengths and weaknesses.

Main Results:

  • Many psychophysical tests for olfactory loss vary in practicality, sensitivity, and reliability.
  • Test length generally correlates positively with sensitivity and reliability.
  • Quantitative olfactory recovery is rare after rhinosinusitis treatment.

Conclusions:

  • Modern rhinologists can easily quantify olfactory (cranial nerve I) function using available tests.
  • Nasal disease impacts olfactory function primarily through pathological changes in the olfactory neuroepithelium.
  • Olfactory function and airway patency are typically unrelated in rhinosinusitis, barring complete nasal obstruction.