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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.
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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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A Free-breathing fMRI Method to Study Human Olfactory Function
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Olfactory Bulb Volume Reflects Olfactory Dysfunction and Network Organization: Insights From the Population-Based

Weiyi Zeng1, Konstantinos Melas1, Santiago Estrada1,2

  • 1Population Health Sciences, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany.

International Forum of Allergy & Rhinology
|March 2, 2026
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Olfactory bulb volume and olfactory network connectivity are key to identifying odors. Smaller olfactory bulbs and reduced connectivity are linked to poorer odor identification, especially in older adults, suggesting potential neurodegeneration biomarkers.

Keywords:
MRIfunctional connectivityodor identificationolfactory bulbolfactory network

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Aging Research
  • Olfactory System

Background:

  • Olfactory dysfunction is prevalent in aging and early neurodegenerative diseases.
  • The interplay between olfactory bulb (OB) volume and olfactory network (OFN) functional connectivity (FC) in odor identification is not well understood.
  • Investigating these relationships can provide insights into aging and neurological conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the associations between OB volume, OFN FC, and odor identification ability.
  • To explore how these factors interact and influence olfactory function in a large population-based cohort.
  • To identify potential biomarkers for olfactory dysfunction and neurodegeneration.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized cross-sectional data from 5605 participants (aged 30-95 years) from the Rhineland Study.
  • Extracted OB volume and OFN FC using 3T MRI scans.
  • Assessed odor identification using the "Sniffin' Sticks" test and analyzed relationships with linear regression.

Main Results:

  • Smaller OB volume correlated with poorer odor identification (β=0.09).
  • This association was more pronounced in men and older individuals.
  • Reduced OFN FC was linked to worse odor identification in individuals with large OBs, particularly older adults and in memory-related brain regions.

Conclusions:

  • OB volume is crucial for detecting olfactory dysfunction.
  • The OB influences odor identification directly and by modulating central network function.
  • Olfactory dysfunction may serve as a potential biomarker for neurodegeneration.