OLFACTO

RY SYS

TEM

B Y: S U

L I E G

AR

CI A

AN

D V

AL E R

I E G

ON

ZA

L E Z

STRUCTURE

• Olfactory Receptors- Located in the roof of the nasal passage

• Olfactory Bulbs- Located in brain

• Olfactory Epithelium- Located 7 cm into the nose

• Olfactory Tract- Located in the brain

• Olfactory Cortex- Located in the Brain

• Olfactory Filaments- roof of nose

STRUCTURE CONTINUED

STRUCTURE CONTINUED

FUNCTION• The function of the Olfactory system is to

recognize the scents inhaled by the nose• When one smells an odor the chemicals

that cause an odor are absorbed into a mucus membrane known as the Olfactory Epithelium and dissolve

• From there Olfactory receptors detect the odor transmitted from the epithelium

• Then the Olfactory Filaments that are connected to the OlfactoryReceptors and lead to bulb in brain

FUNCTION CONTINUED

The Olfactory Bulbs then receive information from chemical- sensing cells from the roof of the nose

After the Olfactory Bulbs receive the information, the Olfactory Tract sends this information to the brain

When the brain receives the information, the Olfactory Cortex recognizes the sent

DISEASES

• Smell is commonly affected by the disease Anosmia

• Anosmia can be caused by a head injury due to the fact that it damages the olfactory nerves that are connected to the olfactory bulb

• Another important factor that contributes to Anosmia is damage in the frontal lobes due to a tumor or surgery

• Exposure to certain toxic chemicals can also cause it

• Also, cocaine abuse can lead to Anosmia

• Some medications, like antibiotics, antidepressants, heart medications, etc., can also cause it

TREATMENTS

• There is no official treatment for Anosmia, however there are a few things that can help people suffering from it.

#1- Castor oil on the nostrils before bed and after bed can improve olfaction

#2- Prescripted medication from a professional doctor

#3- If a smoker, quitting will help the recognition of scent once again because nasal passages will clear

#4- Nasal sprays and antibiotics also help get rid of Anosmia

#5- Surgery also gets rid of Anosmia if nasal sprays and antibiotics don’t work

10 MUST KNOW FACTS!!1. Olfaction- sense of smell

2. The olfactory system can identify food and influences social and sexual behavior.

3. The olfactory system has two distinguished parts: a main olfactory system (identifies airborne substances) and an accessory olfaction system ( produces “pheromones” which allows social behavior)

4. Since the olfactory bulb is part of the brain, scents can trigger memories and responses

5. Each olfactory receptor sends its electrical impulse to a particular part of the olfactory bulb, then the bulb sends it to parts of the brain. The brain then interprets it to smell

10 MUST KNOW FACTS CONTINUED6. Odors in the air are dissolved in the layer of mucus coating

the epithelium (located in the roof of the nasal passage)

7. Receptor cells are bipolar neurons, each containing a dendritic rod. Dendritic rods have cilia, they help axons pass through

8. Receptor cells have axons, which help odors reach the olfactory bulbs and the olfactory tract

9. When odor reaches the brain the limbic system takes place and identifies the odor

10. The olfactory cortex help generate taste information and distinguish flavor

BIBLIOGRAPHY

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/anosmia-cure.html

http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/nosek.html

The Olfactory System: Anatomy and Physiology. Macalester. 1996.

www.macalester.edu/academics/psychology/whathap/.../nasal.

Olfactory System Anatomy. Medscape Referance. 7 June, 2011.

<emedicine.medscape.com/article/835585-overview>

The Olfactory System. How Things Work. 29 October, 2007.

<science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/life/human.../smell2.htm>