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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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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 29, 2025

Author Spotlight: Assessing the Olfactory Effects of Airborne Pollutants — Buried Food and Social Odor Tests
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Olfactory Cleft Width and Volume: Possible Risk Factors for Postinfectious Olfactory Dysfunction.

Aytug Altundag1,2, Dastan Temirbekov3, Cemal Haci1

  • 1Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Acibadem Taksim Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.

The Laryngoscope
|February 7, 2020
PubMed
Summary

Postinfectious olfactory loss (PIOL) is linked to wider olfactory clefts (OCs). This study found that an increased OC width and volume may predispose individuals to PIOL after infections.

Keywords:
Postviral olfactory lossolfactory cleftpostinfectious olfactory dysfunctionupper respiratory tract infection

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Area of Science:

  • Otolaryngology
  • Anatomy
  • Pathophysiology

Background:

  • Upper respiratory tract infections frequently cause olfactory dysfunction.
  • Postinfectious olfactory loss (PIOL) is a rare but significant complication.
  • Understanding predisposing anatomical factors for PIOL is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the anatomical features of the olfactory cleft (OC) in patients with PIOL.
  • To identify potential predisposing factors for PIOL.
  • To compare OC dimensions between PIOL patients and healthy controls.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective evaluation of paranasal sinus computed tomography (CT) scans.
  • Comparison of olfactory fossa depth, OC width, and volume between PIOL patients (n=32) and a control group (n=39).
  • Inclusion of normosmic individuals who underwent CT scans before septoplasty as controls.

Main Results:

  • No significant difference in olfactory fossa depth between the PIOL and control groups.
  • Statistically significant increase in olfactory cleft (OC) width and volume in the PIOL group compared to controls (P < .001).

Conclusions:

  • Patients with PIOL exhibit wider and larger olfactory clefts than healthy individuals.
  • An enlarged olfactory cleft may serve as a predisposing factor in the development of PIOL.