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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...
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.
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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.
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Taste Buds and Receptors01:20

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Gustation, or the sense of taste, is intrinsically linked to the anatomical structures located on the tongue. This organ's surface, along with the entirety of the oral cavity, is adorned with stratified squamous epithelium. Evident on the tongue are elevated structures known as papillae (singular = papilla), which house the mechanisms for the transduction of gustatory stimuli. Four distinct types of papillae exist, each identified by their unique morphological attributes: the circumvallate,...
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Tactile senses encompass touch, temperature, and pain, each mediated by specific receptors. Touch receptors detect mechanical energy or pressure against the skin. Sensory fibers from these receptors enter the spinal cord and relay information to the brain stem. Here, most fibers cross over to the opposite side of the brain. The touch information then moves to the thalamus, which projects a map of the body's surface onto the somatosensory areas of the parietal lobes in the cerebral cortex. This...
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The perception of a salty flavor is facilitated by sodium ions within the oral salivary fluid. Upon consumption of a salty substance, salt crystals disassemble, leading to the liberation of its constituents—Na+ and Cl- ions. These ions subsequently dissolve into the salivary fluid present in the oral cavity. The external environment of the gustatory cells experiences an elevation in Na+ concentration, thereby establishing a potent concentration gradient. This gradient propels the diffusion of...

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A Free-breathing fMRI Method to Study Human Olfactory Function
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Olfactory dysfunction affects thresholds to trigeminal chemosensory sensations.

J Frasnelli1, B Schuster, T Hummel

  • 1CHU Ste.-Justine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada. frasnelli@yahoo.com

Neuroscience Letters
|November 11, 2009
PubMed
Summary

Patients with olfactory dysfunction (OD) show reduced trigeminal system sensitivity. This trigeminal chemosensory impairment varies with age, cause of smell loss, and recovery of olfactory function.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Sensory Science
  • Ophthalmology

Background:

  • The trigeminal system is a crucial chemosensory pathway alongside olfaction and gustation.
  • Olfactory dysfunction (OD) is known to impact trigeminal chemosensory perception.
  • Limited research exists on trigeminal sensitivity in the perithreshold range, especially concerning olfactory dysfunction.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess trigeminal chemosensory detection thresholds in individuals with olfactory dysfunction (OD) compared to controls.
  • To investigate the influence of different etiologies of smell loss on trigeminal sensitivity.
  • To explore the relationship between olfactory function improvement and trigeminal sensitivity.

Main Methods:

  • Assessed carbon dioxide (CO2) detection thresholds, a trigeminal stimulus, in control subjects and patients with OD.
  • Compared trigeminal detection thresholds across various etiologies of olfactory loss, including head trauma and congenital anosmia.
  • Correlated changes in olfactory status with alterations in trigeminal sensitivity thresholds.

Main Results:

  • Patients with OD exhibited significantly higher CO2 detection thresholds than control subjects.
  • In younger patients, olfactory loss from head trauma resulted in more severe trigeminal impairment than congenital anosmia.
  • Improved olfactory function, particularly in postviral OD cases, correlated with decreased trigeminal detection thresholds.

Conclusions:

  • Olfactory dysfunction impairs trigeminal chemosensory sensitivity, particularly in the perithreshold range.
  • Age, the specific cause of olfactory loss, and the degree of olfactory function recovery are significant factors influencing trigeminal sensitivity.
  • These findings highlight the interconnectedness of sensory systems and the complex factors modulating trigeminal perception.