olfactory

(adjective)

Concerning the sense of smell.

Related Terms

Examples of olfactory in the following topics:

  • Olfactory (I) Nerve

    • The olfactory nerve, or cranial nerve I, is the first of the 12 cranial nerves.
    • The specialized olfactory receptor neurons of the olfactory nerve are located in the olfactory mucosa of the upper parts of the nasal cavity.
    • The olfactory nerves consist of a collection of many sensory nerve fibers that extend from the olfactory epithelium to the olfactory bulb, passing through the many openings of the cribriform plate of the ethmoid bone.
    • Olfactory receptor neurons continue to emerge throughout life and extend new axons to the olfactory bulb.
    • These interactions are transduced into electrical activity in the olfactory bulb, which then transmits the electrical activity to other parts of the olfactory system and the rest of the central nervous system via the olfactory tract.

  • Taste and Smell at Birth and in Old Age

    • Infants are responsive to the olfactory cues associated with maternal breast odors.
    • Studies demonstrate that the changes to the olfactory bulb and main olfactory system following birth are extremely important and influential for maternal behavior.
    • A diagram of the olfactory system is shown in .
    • Pregnancy and childbirth result in a high state of plasticity of the olfactory system that may facilitate olfactory learning within the mother.
    • Human olfactory system. 1: Olfactory bulb 2: Mitral cells 3: Bone 4: Nasal epithelium 5: Glomerulus (olfaction) 6: Olfactory receptor cells

  • Overview of the Cerebrum

    • The cerebrum contains the cerebral cortex (of the two cerebral hemispheres), as well as several subcortical structures, including the hippocampus, basal ganglia, and olfactory bulb.
    • The frontal lobe is located at the front of the brain, over the eyes, and contains the  olfactory bulb.
    • The olfactory sensory system is unique in the sense that neurons in the olfactory bulb send their axons directly to the olfactory cortex, rather than to the thalamus first.
    • Damage to the olfactory bulb results in a loss of the sense of smell.
    • The olfactory bulb also receives "top-down" information from such brain areas as the amygdala, neocortex, hippocampus, locus coeruleus, and substantia nigra.

  • Brief Overview of Cranial Nerves

    • The terminal nerves, olfactory nerves (I) and optic nerves (II) emerge from the cerebrum or forebrain, and the remaining ten pairs arise from the brainstem, which is the lower part of the brain.
    • However, on a structural level, the olfactory, optic, and terminal nerves are more accurately considered part of the central nervous system.
    • The Olfactory Nerve (I)-The olfactory nerve is instrumental for the sense of smell, it is one of the few nerves that are capable of regeneration.

  • Sensory Areas

    • Olfactory information, however, passes through the olfactory bulb to the olfactory cortex, bypassing the thalamus.
    • The Olfactory cortex is located in the uncus which is found along the ventral surface of the temporal lobe.

  • Limbic System

    • The septal nuclei receive reciprocal connections from the olfactory bulb, hippocampus, amygdala, hypothalamus, midbrain, habenula, cingulate gyrus, and thalamus.

  • Foramina

    • Foramina of cribriform plate – Located in the ethmoid bone it allows the passage of the olfactory nerve.

  • Overview of Sensation

    • The olfactory system is the sensory system used for the sense of smell (olfaction).
    • In humans, olfaction occurs when odorant molecules bind to specific sites on the olfactory receptors in the nasal cavity.
    • They come together at a structure (the glomerulus) structure that transmits signals to the olfactory bulb in the brain.

  • Sensory Modalities

    • These receptor neurons then synapse at the olfactory cranial nerve, which sends the information to the olfactory bulbs in the brain for initial processing.
    • The olfactory system is the sensory system used for the sense of smell (olfaction).
    • In humans, olfaction occurs when odorant molecules bind to specific sites on the olfactory receptors in the nasal cavity.
    • They come together at a structure (the glomerulus) structure that transmits signals to the olfactory bulb in the brain.

  • Classification of Receptors by Location

    • Our brains commonly receive sensory stimuli from our visual, auditory, olfactory, gustatory, and somatosensory systems.