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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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Physiology of Smell and Olfactory Pathway01:20

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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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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 13, 2025

Vertical T-maze Choice Assay for Arthropod Response to Odorants
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Olfactory navigation in arthropods.

Theresa J Steele1, Aaron J Lanz1, Katherine I Nagel2

  • 1Neuroscience Institute, NYU School of Medicine, 435 E 30th St., New York, NY, 10016, USA.

Journal of Comparative Physiology. A, Neuroethology, Sensory, Neural, and Behavioral Physiology
|January 19, 2023
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Arthropods use conserved neural circuits for odor-guided navigation, adapting ancient strategies to diverse environments. Comparing these systems reveals how basic brain structures diversify for specialized olfactory behaviors.

Keywords:
ArthropodInsectNavigationNeural circuitsOlfaction

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Ethology
  • Comparative Biology

Background:

  • Olfactory navigation is a fundamental, ancient behavior conserved across arthropods.
  • Arthropods like flies, moths, and crabs employ similar strategies to locate food and mates using odors.
  • Homologous brain structures suggest conserved neural underpinnings for these behaviors.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review common strategies and specializations in arthropod olfactory navigation.
  • To examine the neural circuits mediating odor-guided behaviors in arthropods.
  • To explore how conserved neural circuits adapt to generate diverse behaviors in different environments.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative analysis of olfactory navigation strategies across arthropod taxa.
  • Review of existing research on neural circuits involved in olfaction and navigation.
  • Synthesis of findings to propose evolutionary insights.

Main Results:

  • Arthropods integrate flow, concentration, and temporal odor information for navigation.
  • Shared brain structures (antennal lobes, mushroom bodies, central complexes) are involved.
  • Behavioral and neural adaptations allow for diverse odor-seeking in varied environments.

Conclusions:

  • Conserved neural circuits form the basis of arthropod olfactory navigation.
  • Environmental factors drive the diversification of these circuits and behaviors.
  • Comparative studies offer insights into neural circuit evolution and adaptation.