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Olfaction

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 Structure

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...

Physiology of Smell and Olfactory Pathway

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...

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Localization of Odorant Receptor Genes in Locust Antennae by RNA In Situ Hybridization

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Published on: July 13, 2017

Dimorphic olfactory lobes in the arthropoda.

Nicholas Strausfeld¹, Carolina E Reisenman

¹ARL Division of Neurobiology and Center for Insect Science, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA. flybrain@neurobio.arizona.edu

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences

|August 19, 2009

Summary

Specialized olfactory structures linked to sexual or caste differences appear early in insect evolution. This dimorphism, observed across insect orders, is rare in Crustacea, suggesting it

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Area of Science:

* Neuroethology
* Evolutionary biology
* Insect olfaction

Background:

* Sexual and caste dimorphisms in olfactory systems are known in insects.
* These specialized olfactory structures, termed glomeruli, are linked to specific behaviors.
* Previous research has primarily focused on nocturnal insect species.

Purpose of the Study:

* To investigate the evolutionary origins of dimorphic olfactory systems in arthropods.
* To determine if olfactory dimorphism is exclusive to insects or present in other arthropod groups.
* To explore the prevalence of specialized olfactory lobe glomeruli across insect orders.

Main Methods:

* Comparative analysis of neuroanatomical data across insect orders.
* Review of existing literature on olfactory structures in insects and Crustacea.
* Examination of evidence for specialized olfactory lobe glomeruli.

Main Results:

* Specialized olfactory lobe glomeruli associated with sexual or caste differences are found in at least five insect orders.
* This olfactory dimorphism is present in both nocturnal and diurnal species, including those relying on vision for courtship.
* Limited evidence exists for similar structures in Crustacea, with only one prior description noted.

Conclusions:

* The evolution of dimorphic olfactory systems likely originated early in insect evolution.
* Olfactory dimorphism appears to be a characteristic trait of terrestrial arthropods, particularly insects.
* Further research is needed to confirm the presence and extent of olfactory dimorphism in Crustacea.