Week 7 - Olfaction

Olfaction

The process of how we smell smells: how the chemicals contact the membranes inside of our nose.

Where are our olfalctory receptor cells located?

They are embedded in the olfactory mucosa in our nose

Why do we regenerate olfactory receptor cells so often?

our receptor cells are rather exposed compared to other receptor cells in our body and they have a shorter lifespan, so they need to be regenerated more often.

What role do odorants play in our olfactory system?

they activate the transduction process in our neurons.

What is the olfactory nerve made up of?

Olfactory axons

What is the function of the cribiform plate?

it is a thin sheet of bone that the axons penetrate to get to the olfactory bulb

Anosmia

the inability to smell

Why are humans weak smellers?

We have a smaller amount of surface area dedicated to the olfactory epithelium

Olfactory tract does NOT pass through the

thalamus

Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC)

a group of genes that contributes to the functioning of the immune system.

What structures does the olfactory tract project to?

Mainly structures in the medial temporal lobes, such as the amygdala and the piriform cortex.