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

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
Physiology of Smell and Olfactory Pathway01:20

Physiology of Smell and Olfactory Pathway

11.9K
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...
11.9K
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

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Anatomy Curriculum and Teaching Insights From Medical Students in the United Kingdom: A National Survey.

Clinical anatomy (New York, N.Y.)·2026
Same author

Bridging the Health Literacy Gap for Patients With Oral Cancer: Readability Enhancement With AI Chatbots.

Journal of oral pathology & medicine : official publication of the International Association of Oral Pathologists and the American Academy of Oral Pathology·2026
Same author

Citation for the BAOMS Surgery Prize 2024 - Rabin Pratap Singh.

The British journal of oral & maxillofacial surgery·2026
Same author

SCULPT: Medical student and resident doctor comprehension, uptake of learning and perception of aesthetic surgery and training.

JPRAS open·2026
Same author

Pedicled flaps in the reconstruction of medication-related osteonecrosis and osteoradionecrosis of the jaws: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

The British journal of oral & maxillofacial surgery·2025
Same author

The science and art of decision-making in surgery.

The British journal of surgery·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 26, 2025

Constructing an Olfactometer for Rodent Olfactory Behavior Studies Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Hyperscanning Study in Psychological Counseling
08:36

Constructing an Olfactometer for Rodent Olfactory Behavior Studies Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Hyperscanning Study in Psychological Counseling

Published on: April 11, 2025

718

50 years of decoding olfaction.

Peter A Brennan1

  • 1School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.

Brain and Neuroscience Advances
|March 14, 2020
PubMed
Summary

Large families of G-protein-coupled chemosensory receptors transformed olfactory system understanding. Discoveries reveal complex odor representation and innate responses mediated by multiple olfactory subsystems.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Olfactory System Research
  • Chemosensation

Background:

  • The olfactory system was once thought to be a simple dichotomy for odor and pheromone detection.
  • Recent discoveries include large families of G-protein-coupled chemosensory receptors, revolutionizing olfactory research.
  • Olfactory sensory neurons project to specific glomeruli, forming a spatial map of odor representation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the intricate mechanisms of the olfactory system.
  • To understand the spatial and temporal coding of odors.
  • To investigate the role of the piriform cortex in odor recognition.

Main Methods:

  • Utilizing optogenetics in head-fixed awake mice.
  • Analyzing glomerular input timing relative to the sniff cycle.
Keywords:
Olfactorymitralodorantodourpheromonepiriformvomeronasal

More Related Videos

Real-time In Vitro Monitoring of Odorant Receptor Activation by an Odorant in the Vapor Phase
09:53

Real-time In Vitro Monitoring of Odorant Receptor Activation by an Odorant in the Vapor Phase

Published on: April 23, 2019

7.4K
Live-cell Measurement of Odorant Receptor Activation Using a Real-time cAMP Assay
09:11

Live-cell Measurement of Odorant Receptor Activation Using a Real-time cAMP Assay

Published on: October 2, 2017

9.3K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Dec 26, 2025

Constructing an Olfactometer for Rodent Olfactory Behavior Studies Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Hyperscanning Study in Psychological Counseling
08:36

Constructing an Olfactometer for Rodent Olfactory Behavior Studies Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Hyperscanning Study in Psychological Counseling

Published on: April 11, 2025

718
Real-time In Vitro Monitoring of Odorant Receptor Activation by an Odorant in the Vapor Phase
09:53

Real-time In Vitro Monitoring of Odorant Receptor Activation by an Odorant in the Vapor Phase

Published on: April 23, 2019

7.4K
Live-cell Measurement of Odorant Receptor Activation Using a Real-time cAMP Assay
09:11

Live-cell Measurement of Odorant Receptor Activation Using a Real-time cAMP Assay

Published on: October 2, 2017

9.3K
  • Investigating innate responses to diverse odorants.

    • Main Results:

    • Demonstrated the importance of precise glomerular input timing for olfactory processing.
    • Revealed the piriform cortex's crucial role in odor object recognition.
    • Identified multiple olfactory subsystems mediating innate responses to various chemical stimuli.

    Conclusions:

    • The olfactory system is far more complex than previously understood, involving multiple subsystems.
    • Odor representation in the main olfactory bulb is spatially organized.
    • Temporal dynamics of neural input are critical for olfactory perception.