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

11.0K
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...
11.0K
Olfaction01:25

Olfaction

47.9K
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...
47.9K
Suctioning the Nasopharyngeal Airway01:29

Suctioning the Nasopharyngeal Airway

2.6K
Nasopharyngeal suctioning is a procedure to remove secretions from the upper part of the respiratory tract that the patient cannot clear independently. It helps maintain airway patency and prevents complications such as aspiration pneumonia.
Equipment Required
2.6K
Physiology of Smell and Olfactory Pathway01:20

Physiology of Smell and Olfactory Pathway

12.0K
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...
12.0K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Erratum: Wide-field and non-invasive imaging of brain tumours with scattered light techniques: erratum.

Biomedical optics express·2026
Same author

Towards Improved Outcomes for Cavernous Malformations of the Brainstem and Other "Critical" Function Brain Regions.

Neurosurgery·2026
Same author

Wide-field and non-invasive imaging of brain tumours with scattered light techniques.

Biomedical optics express·2026
Same author

Clinical significance of the mastoid emissary vein in paediatric Osia implantation.

Cochlear implants international·2025
Same author

Letter: Neurosurgical Endovascular Credentialing in Europe and the United Kingdom for the "Complete" Neurovascular Surgeon: The Time has Come.

Neurosurgery·2025
Same author

In Reference to Improved Recovery After Vestibular Schwannoma Excision With Intratympanic Gentamicin Prehabilitation.

The Laryngoscope·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 4, 2026

Endoscopic Endonasal Trans-sphenoidal Approach: Minimally Invasive Surgery for Pituitary Adenomas
07:43

Endoscopic Endonasal Trans-sphenoidal Approach: Minimally Invasive Surgery for Pituitary Adenomas

Published on: January 17, 2018

19.4K

Olfactory outcomes after transsphenoidal endonasal surgery.

Irene Baudracco1, Jinendra Ekanayake1, Elinor Warner1

  • 1Department of Neurosurgery, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London, UK.

British Journal of Neurosurgery
|November 12, 2019
PubMed
Summary

Transsphenoidal surgery for pituitary tumors can impair sense of smell. Endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal (EET) surgery may preserve olfactory function better than microscopic endonasal transsphenoidal (MET) surgery.

Keywords:
Transsphenoidalanosmiaendoscopicmicroscopicoutcomespituitary surgery

More Related Videos

Role of Diffusion MRI Tractography in Endoscopic Endonasal Skull Base Surgery
09:53

Role of Diffusion MRI Tractography in Endoscopic Endonasal Skull Base Surgery

Published on: July 5, 2021

4.1K
Endoscopic Septoplasty with Limited Two-line Resection: Minimally Invasive Surgery for Septal Deviation
06:13

Endoscopic Septoplasty with Limited Two-line Resection: Minimally Invasive Surgery for Septal Deviation

Published on: June 20, 2018

17.6K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jan 4, 2026

Endoscopic Endonasal Trans-sphenoidal Approach: Minimally Invasive Surgery for Pituitary Adenomas
07:43

Endoscopic Endonasal Trans-sphenoidal Approach: Minimally Invasive Surgery for Pituitary Adenomas

Published on: January 17, 2018

19.4K
Role of Diffusion MRI Tractography in Endoscopic Endonasal Skull Base Surgery
09:53

Role of Diffusion MRI Tractography in Endoscopic Endonasal Skull Base Surgery

Published on: July 5, 2021

4.1K
Endoscopic Septoplasty with Limited Two-line Resection: Minimally Invasive Surgery for Septal Deviation
06:13

Endoscopic Septoplasty with Limited Two-line Resection: Minimally Invasive Surgery for Septal Deviation

Published on: June 20, 2018

17.6K

Area of Science:

  • Otorhinolaryngology
  • Neurosurgery
  • Endocrinology

Background:

  • Endonasal approach is standard for pituitary tumor resection using microscopic (MET) or endoscopic (EET) techniques.
  • While surgical outcomes are documented, the impact on patients' sense of smell requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To quantify the olfactory outcomes in patients undergoing transsphenoidal surgery for pituitary tumors.
  • To compare the effects of MET and EET on the sense of smell.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective cohort study of 20 pituitary tumor patients (10 MET, 10 EET).
  • Olfactory function assessed pre-operatively and 6 months post-surgery using the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT).

Main Results:

  • Median UPSIT scores decreased from 33 (normosmia) pre-operatively to 25 (moderate microsmia) post-operatively.
  • Post-surgery, 20% had normal smell (all EET), 20% mild microsmia (MET/EET), 35% severe microsmia, and 20% anosmia.
  • The endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal (EET) technique showed potential for better olfactory preservation.

Conclusions:

  • Transsphenoidal surgery poses a risk of olfactory dysfunction, including smell loss.
  • Olfactory outcomes should be discussed during patient counseling.
  • Endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal (EET) surgery may be less detrimental to olfactory function than microscopic endonasal transsphenoidal (MET) surgery, warranting further research.