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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...

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...

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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 30, 2026

Using Single Sensillum Recording to Detect Olfactory Neuron Responses of Bed Bugs to Semiochemicals

Using Single Sensillum Recording to Detect Olfactory Neuron Responses of Bed Bugs to Semiochemicals

Published on: January 18, 2016

Human Odorant Reception in the Common Bed Bug, Cimex lectularius.

Feng Liu¹, Nannan Liu¹

¹Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA.

Scientific Reports

|November 3, 2015

Summary

Bed bugs detect humans using specific olfactory sensilla, primarily responding to aldehydes and alcohols. This research reveals key chemical cues for host-seeking behavior, aiding bed bug control strategies.

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Area of Science:

Entomology
Chemical Ecology
Neurobiology

Background:

The common bed bug (Cimex lectularius) is a significant human ectoparasite with a resurgence globally.
Host-seeking behavior in bed bugs is critically dependent on detecting human odorants.

Purpose of the Study:

To decipher the chemical basis of host detection in Cimex lectularius.
To investigate neuronal responses to human odorants and characterize olfactory receptor functions.

Main Methods:

Single sensillum recording to analyze neuronal responses to 104 human odorants.
Xenopus expression system to characterize electrophysiological responses of bed bug odorant receptors.

Main Results:

D-type olfactory sensilla are predominant in detecting tested human odorants.
Aldehydes and alcohols elicited the strongest neuronal responses, while carboxylic acids showed minimal stimulation.
Two specific bed bug odorant receptors and co-receptors demonstrated specific responses to aldehyde human odorants.

Conclusions:

This study provides novel insights into the olfactory mechanisms of human odorant detection in bed bugs.
Findings offer valuable information for developing novel attractants or repellents for effective bed bug control.