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Related Concept Videos

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...
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...
Oogenesis02:07

Oogenesis

In human women, oogenesis produces one mature egg cell or ovum for every precursor cell that enters meiosis. This process differs in two unique ways from the equivalent procedure of spermatogenesis in males. First, meiotic divisions during oogenesis are asymmetric, meaning that a large oocyte (containing most of the cytoplasm) and minor polar body are produced as a result of meiosis I, and again following meiosis II. Since only oocytes will go on to form embryos if fertilized, this unequal...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 2, 2026

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

Simple and Computer-assisted Olfactory Testing for Mice

Published on: June 15, 2015

Changes in olfactory function with several pregnancies?

C Wohlgemuth1, E Beinder, N Ochsenbein-Kölble

  • 1Department of Obstetrics, Univesity Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland.

Swiss Medical Weekly
|August 12, 2008
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Olfactory function does not appear to decline with an increasing number of pregnancies. This study found no significant differences in smell sensitivity among women with no, one, or multiple children.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Human Physiology

Background:

  • Previous research suggests olfactory function may decrease during pregnancy.
  • The long-term impact of parity (number of pregnancies) on olfactory performance is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine if olfactory performance is affected by the number of children a woman has given birth to.
  • To investigate potential long-lasting changes in smell sensitivity related to parity.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective study involving 93 women across three groups: nulliparous (0 children), uniparous (1 child), and multiparous (2-3 children).
  • Olfactory function was evaluated using the standardized "Sniffin' Sticks" kit.

Main Results:

  • No statistically significant differences in olfactory function were observed between the three groups.
  • The number of pregnancies did not correlate with measurable changes in smell sensitivity.

Conclusions:

  • While pregnancy itself may cause temporary olfactory alterations, these changes do not seem to result in a lasting decline in olfactory function based on the number of pregnancies.
  • Parity does not appear to be a significant factor in long-term olfactory performance.