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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...

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...

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...

Diencephalon: Anatomical Regions

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Diencephalon: Hypothalamus and Coordination

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The hypothalamus is a small yet highly complex and essential brain region that plays a crucial role in regulating various bodily functions. Anatomically, it is located at the base of the brain, just above the brainstem and below the thalamus, forming part of the limbic system.
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Functional Brain Systems: Limbic System

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The limbic system, often called the "emotional brain," is a complex set of structures located deep within the brain. The intricate network of the limbic system supports a wide range of psychological functions, from emotional regulation to memory formation and sensory processing. This functional brain region encompasses specific parts of the diencephalon and the cerebrum, integrating the higher mental functions of the cerebral cortex with the primitive emotional responses of the deep brain...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 14, 2026

Whole Mount Labeling of Cilia in the Main Olfactory System of Mice

Whole Mount Labeling of Cilia in the Main Olfactory System of Mice

Published on: December 27, 2014

Accessory olfactory bulb function is modulated by input from the main olfactory epithelium.

Burton Slotnick¹, Diego Restrepo, Heather Schellinck

¹Department of Psychology, University of South Florida, PCD 4118G, 4202 Fowler Avenue, Tampa, FL 33620, USA. slotnic@american.edu

The European Journal of Neuroscience

|April 10, 2010

Summary

Olfactory epithelium odor detection is necessary to initiate vomeronasal organ sampling. Disrupting the main olfactory epithelium (MOE) with zinc sulfate blocked pheromonal responses and behaviors in mice.

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Last Updated: Jun 14, 2026

Whole Mount Labeling of Cilia in the Main Olfactory System of Mice

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Published on: December 27, 2014

The Olfactory System as a Model to Study Axonal Growth Patterns and Morphology In Vivo

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Ex Vivo Preparations of the Intact Vomeronasal Organ and Accessory Olfactory Bulb

Ex Vivo Preparations of the Intact Vomeronasal Organ and Accessory Olfactory Bulb

Published on: August 4, 2014

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Sensory Biology
Olfaction Research

Background:

The vomeronasal organ (VNO) detects pheromones, crucial for social behaviors.
The trigger for VNO activation, however, remains largely unknown.
Both the main olfactory epithelium (MOE) and VNO detect various odorants.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the role of the main olfactory epithelium in initiating vomeronasal organ sampling.
To determine if MOE input is required for VNO-mediated responses.

Main Methods:

Intranasal zinc sulfate administration to selectively disrupt MOE input.
Anterograde transport of wheat germ agglutinin-horseradish peroxidase to trace neural pathways.
Behavioral assays (aggression, puberty acceleration) and physiological recordings (electrovomeronasogram, c-Fos expression).

Main Results:

Zinc sulfate treatment abolished responses to both pheromonal and non-pheromonal odors, and aggressive behavior in males.
Puberty acceleration in females exposed to male bedding was blocked.
The VNO remained functionally intact, as evidenced by c-Fos activation and electrovomeronasogram recordings.

Conclusions:

Main olfactory epithelium odor detection is essential for initiating vomeronasal organ sampling.
This suggests a hierarchical processing of olfactory information, where MOE input precedes VNO activation for certain responses.