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Olfactory Receptors: Location and Structure

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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...

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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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Experience-Dependent Remodeling of Juvenile Brain Olfactory Sensory Neuron Synaptic Connectivity in an Early-Life Critical Period

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The olfactory sense: a developmental and lifespan perspective.

Ruth A Wittmann-Price¹

¹Department of Nursing, Francis Marion University, Florence, SC 29501-0547, USA. rwittmannprice@fmarion.edu

Journal of Clinical Nursing

|May 9, 2012

Summary

Nurses should assess olfactory function in high-risk patients to improve patient safety and quality of life. Further research is needed to enhance clinical understanding of olfactory function

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Area of Science:

Explores human olfactory development, function, and assessment across the lifespan.
Highlights the understudied nature of olfactory sense and its impact on patient safety and quality of life.

Background:

Olfactory function significantly impacts patient safety and quality of life.
Reviews olfactory development and terminology across different life stages.
Emphasizes the need for nursing assessment of olfactory function for holistic care, impacting respiratory function, bonding, and nutrition.

Purpose of the Study:

To discuss human olfactory development, function, and assessment throughout the lifespan.
To highlight the importance of accurate olfactory function assessment.
To underscore the role of nursing in assessing olfactory deficits.

Main Methods:

Literature review of articles from CINAHL, PsychInfo, and PubMed.
Search limited to English-language articles published up to 2010.
Included clinically based articles on patient care, excluding those on traumatic brain injury.

Main Results:

Evidence supports olfactory assessment by nurses for high-risk populations.
Olfactory assessment by nurses can ensure patient safety.
Enhancing olfactory function assessment improves patient quality of life.

Conclusions:

More research is required to advance clinical knowledge of olfactory function.
Nurses are well-positioned to assess olfactory function in at-risk patients.
Holistic nursing care can be improved through olfactory assessments.