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Olfaction

Olfaction

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...

Olfactory Receptors: Location and Structure

Olfactory Receptors: Location and Structure

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...

Physiology of Smell and Olfactory Pathway

Physiology of Smell and Olfactory Pathway

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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 26, 2025

Simple and Computer-assisted Olfactory Testing for Mice

Simple and Computer-assisted Olfactory Testing for Mice

Published on: June 15, 2015

Sex differences in olfactory cortex neuronal loss in aging.

Majed M Alotaibi^1,2, Matteo De Marco³, Annalena Venneri^3,4

¹Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom.

Frontiers in Human Neuroscience

|June 16, 2023

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Brain aging impacts olfactory cortex volume. Neuronal loss in this region begins earlier in women than men, suggesting potential early detection for neurodegenerative diseases.

Keywords:

aging atrophy neuroimaging neuronal loss olfactory cortex sex

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Last Updated: Jul 26, 2025

Simple and Computer-assisted Olfactory Testing for Mice

Simple and Computer-assisted Olfactory Testing for Mice

Published on: June 15, 2015

A Free-breathing fMRI Method to Study Human Olfactory Function

A Free-breathing fMRI Method to Study Human Olfactory Function

Published on: July 30, 2017

Olfactory Assays for Mouse Models of Neurodegenerative Disease

Olfactory Assays for Mouse Models of Neurodegenerative Disease

Published on: August 25, 2014

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Gerontology
Radiology

Background:

Aging is a significant factor in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's.
Olfactory dysfunction can be an early indicator of neurodegeneration in aging individuals.
Investigating olfactory brain regions may aid in early disease detection and prevention of smell loss consequences.

Purpose of the Study:

To determine how age and sex influence olfactory cortex volume in cognitively healthy individuals.

Main Methods:

Cognitively healthy participants were categorized into three age groups: young (20-35), middle-aged (36-65), and older (66-85).
T1-weighted MRI scans (1.5 T) were analyzed using SPM12 software.
Smoothed MRI images were utilized to quantify olfactory cortex volumes.

Main Results:

Significant age-related differences in olfactory cortex volume were observed (p ≤ 0.0001).
Women exhibited earlier onset of neuronal loss in the olfactory cortex, starting in their fourth decade.
Men showed more substantial olfactory cortex neuronal loss later in life.

Conclusions:

Age-related olfactory cortex volume reduction commences earlier in women compared to men.
Changes in olfactory brain region volumes in aging populations may serve as potential indicators for increased neurodegenerative disease risk.