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Related Concept Videos

Olfactory Receptors: Location and Structure01:03

Olfactory Receptors: Location and Structure

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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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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.
The olfactory receptors are embedded in the cilia of the...
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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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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 10, 2025

Simple and Computer-assisted Olfactory Testing for Mice
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Olfactory function testing before and after anesthesia.

Anna Kristina Hernandez1, Patrick Fuchss2, Antje Haehner2

  • 1Smell & Taste Clinic, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany. akmhernandezmd@gmail.com.

Scientific Reports
|December 14, 2021
PubMed
Summary

General anesthesia does not significantly impact olfactory function in patients undergoing surgery unrelated to the nose or sinuses. Post-operative smell tests showed stable odor perception, with a slight improvement in identification possibly due to retesting.

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Area of Science:

  • Anesthesiology
  • Otorhinolaryngology
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • Anesthesia's potential effects on sensory functions, including smell, are not fully understood.
  • Assessing olfactory function pre- and post-surgery is crucial for patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of general anesthesia on olfactory function in patients undergoing non-nasal surgery.
  • To evaluate changes in odor threshold, discrimination, and identification before and after surgical procedures.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective cohort study involving 73 patients undergoing non-nasal/sinus surgery.
  • Olfactory function assessed using Sniffin' Sticks (odor threshold, discrimination, identification) pre- and post-surgery (mean 6-day interval).
  • Patient data collected included age, sex, smoking history, alcohol intake, medications, and sleep deficits.

Main Results:

  • Olfactory scores demonstrated consistency before and after surgery (p < 0.05).
  • No significant changes were observed in odor thresholds, discrimination, or composite TDI scores.
  • A statistically significant increase in odor identification scores was noted post-surgery (p = 0.011), potentially due to a retest effect.

Conclusions:

  • General anesthesia for surgeries outside the nasal and paranasal regions does not cause major detrimental effects on the sense of smell.
  • Post-operative olfactory performance remains stable, with a minor increase in identification possibly attributed to familiarity with the testing procedure.