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Related Concept Videos

Olfaction01:25

Olfaction

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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

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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.
The olfactory...
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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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Auditory Pathway01:15

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Auditory pathways constitute the complex neural circuits responsible for transmitting and interpreting auditory information from the peripheral auditory system to the brain. Sound waves are initially captured by the outer ear, funneled through the ear canal, and reach the tympanic membrane (eardrum). These vibrations are transmitted via the middle ear's ossicles to the inner ear's cochlea.
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Hair Cells01:22

Hair Cells

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Hair cells are the sensory receptors of the auditory system—they transduce mechanical sound waves into electrical energy that the nervous system can understand. Hair cells are located in the organ of Corti within the cochlea of the inner ear, between the basilar and tectorial membranes. The actual sensory receptors are called inner hair cells. The outer hair cells serve other functions, such as sound amplification in the cochlea, and are not discussed in detail here.
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G-Protein Gated Ion Channels01:21

G-Protein Gated Ion Channels

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GPCRs are primarily responsible for our sense of smell, taste, and vision.  The binding of a sensory stimulus activates GPCR to stimulate effector proteins, many of which are ion channels in the sensory organs. GPCRs modulate the opening and closing of the target ion channels either directly by binding them, or by releasing second messengers that activate these channels. As ions move across the membrane, the membrane potential is altered, which induces an appropriate response.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 29, 2025

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Olfactory information processing viewed through mitral and tufted cell-specific channels.

Tatsumi Hirata1

  • 1Brain Function Laboratory, National Institute of Genetics, SOKENDAI, Mishima, Japan.

Frontiers in Neural Circuits
|March 25, 2024
PubMed
Summary

This review suggests that mitral and tufted cells in the olfactory bulb are key to parallel processing in the sense of smell. These neurons likely convey unique sensory features to the brain.

Keywords:
mitral cellmouseneurogenic taggingolfactory systemparallel processingtufted cell

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Olfactory System Research

Background:

  • Parallel processing is crucial for sensory coding, enabling computation and projection of distinct sensory features.
  • The olfactory system's processing mechanisms are complex and involve multiple neuronal layers.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To propose that mitral and tufted cells contribute to parallel processing within the olfactory system.
  • To explore the potential role of these neurons in conveying unique sensory information.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing anatomical evidence.
  • Analysis of functional data related to olfactory bulb neurons.

Main Results:

  • Mitral and tufted cells, as second-order projection neurons, are identified as potential contributors to parallel processing.
  • Specific features conveyed through the mitral and tufted cell pathways are discussed.

Conclusions:

  • Mitral and tufted cells form a unique channel within the olfactory system, supporting parallel sensory processing.
  • Further investigation into these pathways can elucidate detailed mechanisms of olfactory coding.