Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

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...

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...

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...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Association between olfactory function and quality of life in patients with olfactory disorders: a multicenter study in over 760 participants.

Rhinology·2021

Same author

Inter- and Intrareader Agreement of NI-RADS in the Interpretation of Surveillance Contrast-Enhanced CT after Treatment of Oral Cavity and Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

AJNR. American journal of neuroradiology·2020

Same author

Efficacy of microsurgery in Reinke's oedema evaluated by traditional voice assessment integrated with the Vocal Extent Measure (VEM).

Acta otorhinolaryngologica Italica : organo ufficiale della Societa italiana di otorinolaringologia e chirurgia cervico-facciale·2018

Same author

[Functional and audiological results of tympanoplasty type I using pure perichondrial grafts].

HNO·2013

Same author

[Vestibular dysfunction after cochlear implant in adults].

HNO·2012

Same author

Compulsivity predicts fronto striatal activation in severely anorectic individuals.

Neuroscience·2011

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 17, 2026

A Free-breathing fMRI Method to Study Human Olfactory Function

A Free-breathing fMRI Method to Study Human Olfactory Function

Published on: July 30, 2017

[Olfactory dysfunction: correlation of olfactory bulb volume on MRI and objective olfactometry].

H-C Bauknecht¹, C Jach, F Fleiner

¹Institut für Radiologie, Universitätsmedizin Berlin. christian.bauknecht@gmx.de

Rofo : Fortschritte Auf Dem Gebiete Der Rontgenstrahlen Und Der Nuklearmedizin

|December 10, 2009

Summary

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) accurately measures olfactory bulb volume to detect smell loss. This MRI method shows high sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing olfactory dysfunction, including anosmia and hyposmia.

More Related Videos

Imaging Odor-Evoked Activities in the Mouse Olfactory Bulb using Optical Reflectance and Autofluorescence Signals

Imaging Odor-Evoked Activities in the Mouse Olfactory Bulb using Optical Reflectance and Autofluorescence Signals

Published on: October 31, 2011

Combining a Breath-Synchronized Olfactometer with Brain Simulation to Study the Impact of Odors on Corticospinal Excitability and Effective Connectivity

Combining a Breath-Synchronized Olfactometer with Brain Simulation to Study the Impact of Odors on Corticospinal Excitability and Effective Connectivity

Published on: January 19, 2024

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 17, 2026

A Free-breathing fMRI Method to Study Human Olfactory Function

A Free-breathing fMRI Method to Study Human Olfactory Function

Published on: July 30, 2017

Imaging Odor-Evoked Activities in the Mouse Olfactory Bulb using Optical Reflectance and Autofluorescence Signals

Imaging Odor-Evoked Activities in the Mouse Olfactory Bulb using Optical Reflectance and Autofluorescence Signals

Published on: October 31, 2011

Combining a Breath-Synchronized Olfactometer with Brain Simulation to Study the Impact of Odors on Corticospinal Excitability and Effective Connectivity

Combining a Breath-Synchronized Olfactometer with Brain Simulation to Study the Impact of Odors on Corticospinal Excitability and Effective Connectivity

Published on: January 19, 2024

Area of Science:

Neurology
Radiology
Ophthalmology

Background:

Olfactory dysfunction significantly impacts quality of life.
Objective olfactometry is the standard for assessing smell function.
Non-invasive imaging biomarkers for olfactory dysfunction are needed.

Purpose of the Study:

To evaluate the diagnostic role of olfactory bulb volume measurement using MRI.
To compare MRI-derived olfactory bulb volumes with objective olfactometry results.
To determine the predictive value of olfactory bulb volume for olfactory dysfunction.

Main Methods:

Thirty patients with suspected olfactory dysfunction underwent MRI and objective olfactometry.
Olfactory bulb volumes were measured from 3D MR datasets by two neuroradiologists.
Pearson correlation and ROC analysis were used to assess the relationship between bulb volume and olfactory function.

Main Results:

Olfactory bulb volumes ranged from 0 to 135.9 mm³.
A strong correlation (r > 0.9) was observed between olfactory bulb volume and olfactometry.
ROC analysis identified cut-off values for anosmia (32 mm³) and olfactory dysfunction (80.7 mm³) with high sensitivity and specificity.

Conclusions:

Olfactory bulb volume measured by MRI is a reliable parameter for diagnosing olfactory dysfunction.
MRI-based olfactory bulb volumetry offers a sensitive and specific method for detecting smell loss.
This imaging technique can aid in the diagnosis of conditions causing anosmia and hyposmia.