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

Physiology of Smell and Olfactory Pathway01:20

Physiology of Smell and Olfactory Pathway

8.4K
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...
8.4K
Olfaction01:25

Olfaction

44.3K
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...
44.3K
Olfactory Receptors: Location and Structure01:03

Olfactory Receptors: Location and Structure

9.2K
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...
9.2K
Tactile and Chemical Senses01:27

Tactile and Chemical Senses

289
Tactile senses encompass touch, temperature, and pain, each mediated by specific receptors. Touch receptors detect mechanical energy or pressure against the skin. Sensory fibers from these receptors enter the spinal cord and relay information to the brain stem. Here, most fibers cross over to the opposite side of the brain. The touch information then moves to the thalamus, which projects a map of the body's surface onto the somatosensory areas of the parietal lobes in the cerebral cortex.
289
Taste Buds and Receptors01:20

Taste Buds and Receptors

1.9K
Gustation, or the sense of taste, is intrinsically linked to the anatomical structures located on the tongue. This organ's surface, along with the entirety of the oral cavity, is adorned with stratified squamous epithelium. Evident on the tongue are elevated structures known as papillae (singular = papilla), which house the mechanisms for the transduction of gustatory stimuli. Four distinct types of papillae exist, each identified by their unique morphological attributes: the circumvallate,...
1.9K
Three Developmental Domains01:29

Three Developmental Domains

125
Human development is typically examined across three main domains: physical, cognitive, and socio-emotional. These domains represent the significant areas of change and continuity throughout the lifespan, from infancy to late adulthood.
Physical Development
Physical processes, also known as maturation, encompass the biological changes that occur across an individual's life. These changes begin with genetic inheritance and continue through various stages, including growth in height and...
125

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Age and early life adversity shape heterogeneity of the epigenome across tissues in macaques.

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

Sources of Variation in Fecal Haptoglobin in a Population of Wild Capuchin Monkeys (Cebus imitator).

American journal of primatology·2026
Same author

Responses to Scent Marks in a Wild Group of Leontocebus Weddelli: Insights for Sexual Communication.

American journal of primatology·2026
Same author

Microbial Contributions to Primate Reproduction.

Evolutionary anthropology·2026
Same author

Temperature and Rainfall Associate With Patterns of Parasitism in Free-Ranging Capuchin Monkeys (Cebus imitator).

American journal of primatology·2026
Same author

MHC-DRB heterozygosity may increase subordinate but not alpha male siring success in white-faced capuchin monkeys (Cebus imitator).

Primates; journal of primatology·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 27, 2025

Simple and Computer-assisted Olfactory Testing for Mice
06:40

Simple and Computer-assisted Olfactory Testing for Mice

Published on: June 15, 2015

10.1K

Smell throughout the life course.

Alice C Poirier1, Amanda D Melin1,2,3

  • 1Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Evolutionary Anthropology
|May 5, 2024
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The human sense of smell, or olfaction, is vital throughout life, influencing social bonds, health, and safety. This review challenges the underestimation of its importance, highlighting its biological underpinnings and lifelong impact.

Keywords:
chemical communicationodor perceptionolfactionolfactory dysfunctionsense of smellsensory ecology

More Related Videos

Author Spotlight: Exploring Glial Influence in Experience-Dependent Synaptic Pruning During Critical Periods
07:13

Author Spotlight: Exploring Glial Influence in Experience-Dependent Synaptic Pruning During Critical Periods

Published on: March 1, 2024

662
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

7.1K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 27, 2025

Simple and Computer-assisted Olfactory Testing for Mice
06:40

Simple and Computer-assisted Olfactory Testing for Mice

Published on: June 15, 2015

10.1K
Author Spotlight: Exploring Glial Influence in Experience-Dependent Synaptic Pruning During Critical Periods
07:13

Author Spotlight: Exploring Glial Influence in Experience-Dependent Synaptic Pruning During Critical Periods

Published on: March 1, 2024

662
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

7.1K

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Human Biology
  • Sensory Science

Background:

  • Olfaction is crucial for health and social interactions from infancy through adulthood.
  • Its roles include social bonding, mate selection, food assessment, and danger avoidance.
  • Despite its importance, human olfaction has been historically undervalued in scientific research.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To critically review the current understanding of human olfactory communication.
  • To refute the notion that the sense of smell is of minor importance.
  • To provide a comprehensive overview of olfaction's role throughout the human lifespan.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and critical analysis of existing research on human olfaction.
  • Synthesis of biological, developmental, and social aspects of smell.
  • Prospective overview of olfaction's significance across the life course.

Main Results:

  • Olfaction begins in utero and significantly impacts social development and relationships.
  • Smell is essential for evaluating food, avoiding dangers, and influencing consumer behavior.
  • Sensory decline with age and disease negatively affects health and well-being.

Conclusions:

  • Human olfactory communication is a critical, yet underappreciated, sensory system.
  • Further research is needed to fully understand its complexities and implications.
  • Future directions should address limitations in current knowledge and explore new avenues of investigation.