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Related Concept Videos

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.
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Olfaction01:25

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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 Receptors: Location and Structure01:03

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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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Introduction to Special Senses01:26

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Sensory receptors play an integral part in comprehending our external and internal environments. They receive diverse stimuli, converting them into the nervous system's electrochemical signals. This conversion occurs as the stimulus alters the sensory neuron's cell membrane potential, instigating the generation of an action potential. This action potential is subsequently transmitted to the central nervous system (CNS), which integrates with other sensory data or higher cognitive...
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The nose is composed of an observable exterior segment (external nose) and an internal segment within the skull known as the nasal cavity (internal nose). The external nose, visible on the face, consists of a framework of bone and hyaline cartilage enveloped in skin and muscle and lined with a mucous membrane. This structure is supported by the frontal bone, nasal bones, and maxillary bone and is supplemented by a cartilaginous framework comprising the septal nasal cartilage, lateral nasal...
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Development of the reproductive organs in an embryo starts from a bipotential state. This means the early embryo can develop either male or female reproductive organs. The formation of these organs begins with the growth of gonadal ridges that arise from the intermediate mesoderm during the fifth week of development.
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The Olfactory System as a Model to Study Axonal Growth Patterns and Morphology In Vivo
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Development of the human olfactory system.

Harvey B Sarnat1, Laura Flores-Sarnat2

  • 1Department of Paediatrics, University of Calgary Cumming School of Medicine and Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Calgary, AB, Canada; Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary Cumming School of Medicine and Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Calgary, AB, Canada; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (Neuropathology), University of Calgary Cumming School of Medicine and Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Calgary, AB, Canada.

Handbook of Clinical Neurology
|October 13, 2019
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The human olfactory system develops early, with scent discrimination occurring in utero. Neonatal olfactory reflex testing is recommended, especially for infants with neurological conditions.

Keywords:
Fetal odor perceptionOlfactory bulb dysgenesisOlfactory developmentOlfactory reflexesOlfactory thalamus

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Biology
  • Sensory Systems

Background:

  • Human olfactory system development begins early in gestation.
  • Olfactory function is not dependent on complete neuroanatomical maturity.
  • Key structures like olfactory bulbs are identifiable via MRI by 28-30 weeks gestation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To detail the developmental trajectory of the human olfactory system.
  • To highlight the functional capabilities of the immature olfactory system.
  • To emphasize the clinical relevance of olfactory development and potential malformations.

Main Methods:

  • Review of neuroanatomical and developmental literature.
  • Analysis of imaging (MRI) and neuropathological findings.
  • Discussion of functional assessments of neonatal olfaction.

Main Results:

  • Olfactory axons project to the telencephalon before olfactory bulb formation.
  • Synaptic glomeruli in the olfactory bulb act as functional analogs to peripheral ganglia.
  • Olfactory bulb lamination is present by 14 weeks, but full maturation, including myelination, occurs postnatally.
  • The olfactory system lacks direct thalamic input, with the olfactory bulb and anterior olfactory nucleus serving as surrogates.

Conclusions:

  • The human olfactory system exhibits significant prenatal development and function.
  • Malformations of the olfactory bulb are detectable through clinical and imaging methods.
  • Routine neonatal olfactory reflex testing is advised for high-risk infants.