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Biomedical Basics

Senses: smell and olfactory system

  • Created by Henry Stewart Talks
Published on January 28, 2026   4 min

A selection of talks on Physiology & Anatomy

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Session centers on senses, smell and olfactory system, offering a structured look at the anatomy and function of the human olfactory system, including how the nose and olfactory epithelium detect and process smells. We will discuss the pathway of olfactory signals from the nose to the brain and how smell is closely linked to memory, emotion, and the perception of flavor. The role of olfaction in daily life, including its importance in taste, safety, and social interactions will be explored. Finally, we will examine common disorders of smell, their causes, and their impact on health and quality of life. The human sense of smell begins in the nose, an organ with both respiratory and sensory functions. The nasal cavity houses the olfactory epithelium at its upper part, containing olfactory receptor neurons, bipolar nerve cells, with cilia embedded in a mucus layer. These cilia have olfactory receptors that bind specific chemical molecules or odorants inhaled through the nose. The noses structure warms and directs air, ensuring efficient delivery of smells. Humans have around 400 olfactory receptor genes, enabling detection of many odors. The olfactory epithelium is a pseudostratified layer with three main cell types, olfactory receptor neurons, supporting sustentacular cells and basal stem cells when odorant molecules enter the nasal cavity via sniffing,

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Senses: smell and olfactory system

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