Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Olfactory Receptors: Location and Structure01:03

Olfactory Receptors: Location and Structure

12.9K
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...
12.9K
Olfaction01:25

Olfaction

49.3K
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...
49.3K
Physiology of Smell and Olfactory Pathway01:20

Physiology of Smell and Olfactory Pathway

13.4K
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...
13.4K
Neurulation01:30

Neurulation

46.8K
Neurulation is the embryological process which forms the precursors of the central nervous system and occurs after gastrulation has established the three primary cell layers of the embryo: ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm. In humans, the majority of this system is formed via primary neurulation, in which the central portion of the ectoderm—originally appearing as a flat sheet of cells—folds upwards and inwards, sealing off to form a hollow neural tube. As development proceeds, the...
46.8K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Reviewer Comment on Salman et al. "Mortality in Children with Optic Nerve Hypoplasia/Septo-Optic-Pituitary Dysplasia".

The Canadian journal of neurological sciences. Le journal canadien des sciences neurologiques·2026
Same author

An interdisciplinary fetal neonatal neurology collaborative promotes integrative life-course brain health.

Frontiers in neurology·2026
Same author

Neuroglia pathology in genetic and epigenetic disorders of the central nervous system.

Handbook of clinical neurology·2025
Same author

Towards a histological diagnosis of childhood small vessel CNS vasculitis.

Pediatric rheumatology online journal·2024
Same author

Keratan sulfate proteoglycan: putative template for neuroblast migratory and axonal fascicular pathways and fetal expression in globus pallidus, thalamus, and olfactory bulb.

Journal of neuropathology and experimental neurology·2024
Same author

Neuroembryonic and fetal brain development: Relevance to fetal/neonatal neurological training.

Seminars in fetal & neonatal medicine·2024

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 4, 2026

The Olfactory System as a Model to Study Axonal Growth Patterns and Morphology In Vivo
08:29

The Olfactory System as a Model to Study Axonal Growth Patterns and Morphology In Vivo

Published on: October 30, 2014

11.4K

Olfactory Development, Part 2: Neuroanatomic Maturation and Dysgeneses.

Harvey B Sarnat1,2,3, Laura Flores-Sarnat1,3

  • 11 Department of Paediatrics, University of Calgary and Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Journal of Child Neurology
|April 21, 2017
PubMed
Summary

The developing olfactory system, including the olfactory bulb, shows immaturity at birth, with key processes like neuronal differentiation continuing postnatally. This immaturity does not prevent the olfactory system from functioning.

Keywords:
agenesisbulbdevelopmentdysgenesismaturationolfactory epitheliumprogenitorssynaptic glomerulitract

More Related Videos

Olfactory Neurons Obtained through Nasal Biopsy Combined with Laser-Capture Microdissection: A Potential Approach to Study Treatment Response in Mental Disorders
08:33

Olfactory Neurons Obtained through Nasal Biopsy Combined with Laser-Capture Microdissection: A Potential Approach to Study Treatment Response in Mental Disorders

Published on: December 4, 2014

10.2K
A Lateralized Odor Learning Model in Neonatal Rats for Dissecting Neural Circuitry Underpinning Memory Formation
10:42

A Lateralized Odor Learning Model in Neonatal Rats for Dissecting Neural Circuitry Underpinning Memory Formation

Published on: August 18, 2014

9.4K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Mar 4, 2026

The Olfactory System as a Model to Study Axonal Growth Patterns and Morphology In Vivo
08:29

The Olfactory System as a Model to Study Axonal Growth Patterns and Morphology In Vivo

Published on: October 30, 2014

11.4K
Olfactory Neurons Obtained through Nasal Biopsy Combined with Laser-Capture Microdissection: A Potential Approach to Study Treatment Response in Mental Disorders
08:33

Olfactory Neurons Obtained through Nasal Biopsy Combined with Laser-Capture Microdissection: A Potential Approach to Study Treatment Response in Mental Disorders

Published on: December 4, 2014

10.2K
A Lateralized Odor Learning Model in Neonatal Rats for Dissecting Neural Circuitry Underpinning Memory Formation
10:42

A Lateralized Odor Learning Model in Neonatal Rats for Dissecting Neural Circuitry Underpinning Memory Formation

Published on: August 18, 2014

9.4K

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Biology
  • Olfactory System Research

Background:

  • Olfactory axons connect the nasal epithelium to the telencephalon before olfactory bulb formation.
  • Olfactory bulb neurons originate from the rostral migratory stream, not differentiating in situ.
  • The olfactory system exhibits unique architectural features distinct from other cortical regions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the developmental trajectory of the human olfactory system.
  • To characterize neuronal differentiation, synaptogenesis, and myelination in the fetal and neonatal olfactory bulb.
  • To assess the functional implications of olfactory system immaturity at birth.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of cellular markers for neuronal differentiation and synaptogenesis.
  • Histological examination of olfactory bulb, tract, and epithelium.
  • Review of diagnostic methods for olfactory bulb malformations, including clinical, imaging, and neuropathological approaches.

Main Results:

  • Fetal olfactory maturation, including neuronal differentiation and synaptogenesis, is incomplete at term.
  • The olfactory system undergoes significant postnatal development.
  • Cellular markers reveal olfactory system immaturity at birth, contrary to previous assumptions based solely on histology.
  • The olfactory ventricular recess involutes postnatally but can dilate in congenital hydrocephalus.
  • The olfactory bulb, tract, and epithelium serve as reservoirs for progenitor stem cells throughout life.

Conclusions:

  • The olfactory system's development is protracted, extending into the postnatal period.
  • Despite immaturity at birth, the olfactory system is functional.
  • Understanding olfactory system development is crucial for diagnosing and managing congenital olfactory bulb malformations.