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Related Concept Videos

Olfactory Receptors: Location and Structure01:03

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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Taste Buds and Receptors01:20

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Gustation, or the sense of taste, is intrinsically linked to the anatomical structures located on the tongue. This organ's surface, along with the entirety of the oral cavity, is adorned with stratified squamous epithelium. Evident on the tongue are elevated structures known as papillae (singular = papilla), which house the mechanisms for the transduction of gustatory stimuli. Four distinct types of papillae exist, each identified by their unique morphological attributes: the circumvallate,...
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The Physiology of Taste01:24

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The perception of a salty flavor is facilitated by sodium ions within the oral salivary fluid. Upon consumption of a salty substance, salt crystals disassemble, leading to the liberation of its constituents—Na+ and Cl- ions. These ions subsequently dissolve into the salivary fluid present in the oral cavity. The external environment of the gustatory cells experiences an elevation in Na+ concentration, thereby establishing a potent concentration gradient. This gradient propels the...
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Gustation01:43

Gustation

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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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Physiology of Smell and Olfactory Pathway01:20

Physiology of Smell and Olfactory Pathway

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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...
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Olfaction01:25

Olfaction

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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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Olfactory and Gustatory Function After Bariatric Surgery.

Franca Holinski1, Charalambos Menenakos2, Georg Haber2

  • 1Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head, and Neck Surgery, Charité, University Medicine Berlin, Charité Campus Mitte, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany. franca.holinski@charite.de.

Obesity Surgery
|April 26, 2015
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Morbidly obese patients often have impaired smell and taste. Bariatric surgery improves these chemosensory functions, with olfactory and gustatory abilities returning to normal levels six months post-operation.

Keywords:
Bariatric surgeryBypass surgeryGastric bandingGustatory functionObesity surgeryOlfactory functionSleeve gastrectomyTaste strip testThreshold-discrimination-identification test

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Area of Science:

  • Bariatric Surgery
  • Chemosensation
  • Obesity

Background:

  • Obesity is linked to altered sensory perception, impacting appetite and food preferences.
  • Neither hormonal changes nor malabsorption fully explain weight loss post-bariatric surgery.
  • Sensory factors like taste and smell significantly influence eating behavior.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To prospectively analyze olfactory and gustatory function in patients before and after bariatric surgery.
  • To compare chemosensory function in patients undergoing different bariatric procedures versus healthy controls.

Main Methods:

  • Psychophysical testing was used to assess orthonasal olfactory and gustatory function.
  • 44 patients (Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy, adjustable gastric banding) and 23 controls participated.
  • Threshold-discrimination-identification (TDI) and taste strip test (TST) scores were evaluated.

Main Results:

  • Pre-surgery, 22.7% of obese patients exhibited hyposmia (impaired smell) and 22.7% had limited gustatory function.
  • Hyposmic patients showed significantly lower TDI scores (p=0.009).
  • Limited gustatory function correlated with significantly lower TST scores (p=0.003).

Conclusions:

  • Obesity frequently causes impaired olfactory and gustatory function.
  • Bariatric surgery leads to significant improvement in both smell and taste perception.
  • Chemosensory function normalized six months after surgery, suggesting a link to weight loss.