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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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The Dig Task: A Simple Scent Discrimination Reveals Deficits Following Frontal Brain Damage
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Olfactory dysfunction after head injury.

Boris R Haxel1, Leah Grant, Alan Mackay-Sim

  • 1Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Mainz, School of Medicine, Mainz, Germany. haxel@hno.klinik.uni-mainz.de

The Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation
|November 27, 2008
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Head trauma can cause olfactory dysfunction, affecting 12.8% of patients. This smell loss is linked to skull base fractures and intracranial bleeding, impacting prognosis.

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Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Otolaryngology
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • Head trauma is a common cause of neurological injury.
  • Olfactory dysfunction is a potential but often underreported consequence of head injury.
  • Understanding the incidence and predictors of smell loss post-trauma is crucial for patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the incidence of olfactory dysfunction following head trauma.
  • To investigate the correlation between olfactory dysfunction and clinical/radiological findings.
  • To assess olfactory function using quantitative and electro-physiological methods.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of 190 patients with varying degrees of head trauma (mild, moderate, severe).
  • Telephone surveys and olfactory screening using the Brief Smell Identification Test.
  • In-depth outpatient assessment with Sniffin' Sticks and olfactory-evoked potential recording for those with dysfunction.

Main Results:

  • Olfactory dysfunction was reported by 11% of participants, with an overall incidence of 12.8% after head injury.
  • A significant correlation was observed between olfactory dysfunction and the presence of skull base fractures and intracranial hemorrhage/hematoma.
  • Olfactory-evoked potential results were heterogeneous, suggesting complex functional changes.

Conclusions:

  • The location of head trauma appears more critical for prognosis than incidence alone.
  • Functional anosmia can occur despite some evidence of intact olfactory nerve function, as indicated by odor-evoked potentials.
  • These findings highlight the importance of evaluating olfactory function after head injury.