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Related Concept Videos

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.
The olfactory...
Olfaction01:25

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...
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...
Chemical Factors Affecting Respiration Centers01:31

Chemical Factors Affecting Respiration Centers

Chemical factors such as changing CO2, O2, and H+ levels in arterial blood play a critical role in influencing respiration depth and rates. These variations are detected by chemoreceptors—specialized sensors located in two primary body areas. Central chemoreceptors are found throughout the brain stem, including the ventrolateral medulla, while peripheral chemoreceptors are located in the aortic arch and carotid arteries.
CO2 has a potent influence on respiration and is strictly regulated. Under...
Regulation of Metabolism01:19

Regulation of Metabolism

Cellular needs and conditions vary from cell to cell and change within individual cells over time. For example, the required enzymes and energetic demands of stomach cells are different from those of fat storage cells, skin cells, blood cells, and nerve cells. Furthermore, a digestive cell works much harder to process and break down nutrients during the time that closely follows a meal compared with many hours after a meal. As these cellular demands and conditions vary, so do the amounts and...
Other Factors Affecting Respiration Centers01:17

Other Factors Affecting Respiration Centers

Breathing is primarily an involuntary activity regulated by the brainstem respiratory centers. However, it can also be consciously controlled, allowing us to hold our breath or take deeper breaths when needed. This voluntary control is facilitated by the cerebral motor cortex, which bypasses the medullary centers to stimulate the respiratory muscles directly.
However, the ability to hold one's breath voluntarily is not limitless. When the CO2 concentration in the blood reaches a critical level,...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 20, 2026

A Free-breathing fMRI Method to Study Human Olfactory Function
10:42

A Free-breathing fMRI Method to Study Human Olfactory Function

Published on: July 30, 2017

Olfaction under metabolic influences.

Brigitte Palouzier-Paulignan1, Marie-Christine Lacroix, Pascaline Aimé

  • 1Centre de Recherche des Neurosciences de Lyon, Equipe Olfaction du Codage à la Mémoire, INSERM U 1028/CNRS 5292, Université de Lyon1, 50 Ave. Tony Garnier, 69366, Lyon, Cedex 07, France.

Chemical Senses
|July 27, 2012
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The olfactory system

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Last Updated: May 20, 2026

A Free-breathing fMRI Method to Study Human Olfactory Function
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Area of Science:

  • Neuroendocrinology
  • Metabolic Homeostasis
  • Sensory Systems Biology

Background:

  • The link between the olfactory system and endocrine regulation of energy balance is increasingly recognized.
  • Research has highlighted shared molecular pathways between taste and gut signaling, overshadowing olfactory system research.
  • Hormonal fluctuations during feeding or endocrine disorders significantly modulate olfactory perception.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide a comprehensive review of hormonal modulation of olfactory perception.
  • To explore the impact of disrupted olfactory hormonal signaling on energy homeostasis.
  • To address the growing global health concerns of obesity and diabetes.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent publications and emerging research.
  • Analysis of molecular and physiological interactions between olfactory and endocrine systems.
  • Synthesis of knowledge on hormonal influences on olfaction and energy balance.

Main Results:

  • Olfactory perception is dynamically modulated by hormones like ghrelin, insulin, and leptin.
  • Disruptions in hormonal signaling within the olfactory system can negatively affect energy homeostasis.
  • The interplay between olfaction and endocrine systems is crucial for metabolic regulation.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding hormonal modulation of olfaction is critical for addressing metabolic disorders.
  • Further research into the olfactory system's role in energy balance is warranted.
  • This review consolidates current knowledge, highlighting the significance of olfaction in metabolic health.