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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...

Tactile and Chemical Senses

Tactile and Chemical Senses

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...

Introduction to Special Senses

Introduction to Special Senses

Sensory receptors play an integral part in comprehending our external and internal environments. They receive diverse stimuli, converting them into the nervous system's electrochemical signals. This conversion occurs as the stimulus alters the sensory neuron's cell membrane potential, instigating the generation of an action potential. This action potential is subsequently transmitted to the central nervous system (CNS), which integrates with other sensory data or higher cognitive functions.

Gustation

Gustation

Gustation is a chemical sense that, along with olfaction (smell), contributes to our perception of taste. It starts with the activation of receptors by chemical compounds (tastants) dissolved in the saliva. The saliva and filiform papillae on the tongue distribute the tastants and increase their exposure to the taste receptors.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 12, 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

A silicon olfactome.

Bill S Hansson¹, Marcus C Stensmyr

¹Department of Evolutionary Neuroethology, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany. hansson@ice.mpg.de

Chemical Senses

|June 10, 2010

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Scientists developed a web tool to compare fruit fly olfactory receptor (DOr) responses across studies. This resource standardizes data, aiding olfactory research and understanding chemical senses.

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Area of Science:

Chemosensory science
Neuroscience
Bioinformatics

Background:

Comparing olfactory receptor (OR) response specificity across laboratories is challenging due to varying experimental methods.
Standardizing data collection and analysis is crucial for advancing olfactory research.
Drosophila melanogaster olfactory receptors (DOrs) are a key model system for understanding olfaction.

Discussion:

A new web-based resource has been developed to consolidate and compare existing response spectra data for DOrs.
This tool utilizes an algorithm to standardize and present data on ligand identification and receptor tuning width.
The resource is freely accessible, encouraging community contribution and data expansion.

Key Insights:

The tool enables direct comparison of DOr response specificities, overcoming methodological discrepancies.
It provides a comprehensive overview of known ligands and the tuning breadth of DOrs.
The open structure facilitates ongoing updates with new experimental findings.

Outlook:

The developed algorithm's structure allows for adaptation to other species, including mice and humans.
Future iterations may address current limitations and further enhance cross-species olfactory comparisons.
This initiative represents a significant step towards a unified understanding of olfaction in Drosophila and beyond.