What are olfaction and odorants?
Olfactory receptors (ORs), also known as odorant receptors, are chemoreceptors expressed in the cell membranes of olfactory receptor neurons and are responsible for the detection of odorants (for example, compounds that have an odor) which give rise to the sense of smell.
Is the vomeronasal organ part of the olfactory system?
In humans, the vomeronasal organ (VNO), also known as (Jacobson’s) organ is an accessory olfactory organ situated on the anteroinferior third of the nasal septum [1]. It consists of a blind sac with a duct opening anteriorly, both supplied with a rich vascular and glandular network.
What are the two olfactory systems?
The olfactory system can be divided into two main components: (1) the main olfactory system which consists of the main olfactory epithlium in the nasal cavity where transduction of volatile odors occurs, and the main olfactory bulb and its connections with other parts of the brain; and (2) the accessory olfactory …
What does olfactory mean in biology?
Anatomical terminology. The sense of smell, or olfaction, is the special sense through which smells (or odors) are perceived.
Is olfaction a function of the respiratory system?
olfactory system, the bodily structures that serve the sense of smell. The system consists of the nose and the nasal cavities, which in their upper parts support the olfactory mucous membrane for the perception of smell and in their lower parts act as respiratory passages.
What are the functions of olfaction?
The olfactory system provides numerous functions to humans, influencing ingestive behavior, awareness of environmental hazards and social communication. Approximately ⅕ of the general population exhibit an impaired sense of smell.
What is the vomeronasal system?
The vomeronasal system is an accessory olfactory system that is present in most amphibians, reptiles, and mammals. The vomeronasal (Jacobson’s) organ contains a sensory epithelium that contains different cell types than olfactory epithelium, and the two epithelia use different transduction mechanisms.
What is vomeronasal organ What is its function?
Jacobson’s organ, also called vomeronasal organ, an organ of chemoreception that is part of the olfactory system of amphibians, reptiles, and mammals, although it does not occur in all tetrapod groups. It is a patch of sensory cells within the main nasal chamber that detects heavy moisture-borne odour particles.
What is the olfactory systems main organ?
The system consists of the nose and the nasal cavities, which in their upper parts support the olfactory mucous membrane for the perception of smell and in their lower parts act as respiratory passages.
How does olfaction different from other sensory systems?
The olfactory system is thus unique among the sensory systems in that it does not entail a thalamic relay en route to the primary cortical region that processes the sensory information. The olfactory tract also projects to a number of other targets in the forebrain, including the hypothalamus and amygdala.
Why is the olfactory system unique?
What is the function involved in olfaction?
Olfaction is the sensation of smell that results from the detection of odorous substances aerosolized in the environment. Along with vision, taste, hearing, and balance, olfaction is a special sense. Humans are able to detect odors through the components of the olfactory system.