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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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Thermosensation01:43

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Peripheral thermosensation is the perception of external temperature. A change in temperature (on the surface of the skin and other tissues) is detected by a family of temperature-sensitive ion channels called Transient Receptor Potential, or TRP, receptors. These receptors are located on free nerve endings. Those detecting cold temperatures are closer to the surface of the skin than the nerve endings detecting warmth. These thermoTRP channels, while temperature selective, have relatively...
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Sensory Functions of the Skin01:16

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The skin is the largest organ of the human body and plays a crucial role in our sensory perception. It contains a vast network of sensory receptors that contribute to the skin's protective function by perceiving physical, biological, and environmental cues and generating relevant responses.
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Olfactory Receptors: Location and Structure01:03

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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.
The olfactory...
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Nose and Nasal Cavity01:24

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The nose is composed of an observable exterior segment (external nose) and an internal segment within the skull known as the nasal cavity (internal nose). The external nose, visible on the face, consists of a framework of bone and hyaline cartilage enveloped in skin and muscle and lined with a mucous membrane. This structure is supported by the frontal bone, nasal bones, and maxillary bone and is supplemented by a cartilaginous framework comprising the septal nasal cartilage, lateral nasal...
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The human nasal response to capsaicin

G Philip1, F M Baroody, D Proud

  • 1Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins Asthma & Allergy Center, Baltimore, MD 21224-6801.

The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
|December 1, 1994
PubMed
Summary

Capsaicin nasal challenges activate airway sensory nerves, causing glandular secretion but not increased vascular permeability. Repeated exposure led to reduced responses, indicating tachyphylaxis.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Immunology
  • Rhinology

Background:

  • Airway sensory nerves are crucial in responses to inhaled substances.
  • Capsaicin, from hot peppers, selectively activates specific sensory nerves.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of selective airway sensory nerve activation in the human nose using capsaicin.
  • To understand the physiological responses, including secretion and vascular permeability, following capsaicin challenge.

Main Methods:

  • Eight volunteers (4 normal, 4 with allergic rhinitis) received capsaicin nasal challenges.
  • Nasal lavage fluid was analyzed for total protein, albumin, and lactoferrin content.
  • Repetitive challenges and unilateral disk challenges were performed to assess tachyphylaxis and localized responses.

Main Results:

  • Capsaicin induced burning, rhinorrhea, and lacrimation.
  • Total protein and lactoferrin (glandular secretion marker) significantly increased, while albumin (vascular permeability marker) did not.
  • Repetitive capsaicin challenges resulted in tachyphylaxis of symptoms and secretions.
  • Unilateral capsaicin challenge induced secretion on both ipsilateral and contralateral sides.

Conclusions:

  • Capsaicin nasal challenge effectively activates airway sensory nerves in humans.
  • The induced nasal secretion is primarily glandular, not vascular.
  • A central neuronal response is stimulated, and tachyphylaxis limits repeated activation effects.