The Chemical Senses: Smell

Dr. Sovan Bagchi

Professor of Physiology

www.gmu.ac.ae COLLEGE OF MEDICINE

Learning objectives

Describe Describe sense of smell

Describe Describe chemical basis of smell

Describe Describe pathways for smell

Where does olfaction occur?
• The olfactory epithelium is located on the roof of the nasal cavity

• The olfactory membrane - along the surface of the superior septum in

nostril –2.4 cm2 surface area

• The receptor cells are ciliated neurons, and they live approximately
60 days
100 million of Olfactory cells - bipolar nerve cells

Olfactory cell forms a knob from which 4 to 25 olfactory hairs - 0.3 Dia & 200µm length

Bowman's glands that secrete mucus

Odorant should be a volatile substances & water or lipid soluble

Membrane potential of olfactory cell is -55mv

Olfactory cells generate continuous AP at 2-3/sec up to 20-30/sec

 Mechanism of stimulation

Odorant coming in contact with the olfactory membrane surface and Binds with receptor proteins

Inside receptor protein is coupled with G-protein

Alpha subunit breaks from G-protein and activates adenylyl cyclase

Activated adenylyl cyclase convert the ATP into cAMP

cAMP opens "gate“ Na channel and allows large no. of Na+ to pour through the membrane

Excited the olfactory neuron and transmitting AP into the CNS

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Adaptation

The olfactory receptors adapt 50% in the 1st second. Thereafter,

they adapt very little and very slowly

Psychological adaptation is far greater than the degree of

adaptation of the receptors themselves

Large no. of centrifugal nerve fibers from the olfactory regions of

the brain backward to inhibitory cells in the olfactory bulb, the
granule cells
Based on psychological studies,
classification of sensations
Camphoraceous

Musky

Floral

Peppermint

Ethereal

Pungent

Putrid

At least 100 primary sensations of smell

Smell
Methylmercaptan can be smelled when only one 25 trillionth of a gram is present in
each ml of air

Harmful smells- smoke, skunk etc. can elicit a fight or flight response from the
sympathetic N.S

Pleasant smells may enhance mood. Tasty food smells can increase salivation.

Anosmia- “difficulty smelling” – caused by allergies, head injuries, and smoking.

Most common cause is a lack of zinc.

Uncinate fits- brain distorts the sense of smell (hallucinations of unpleasant odors)
 Olfactory Pathway
25000 Olfactory receptor cells synapse with glomerulus

Mitral cells (25cells/glomerulus)

Tufted cells (60 cell/glomerulus) mitral cells process

odor signals

Each glomerulus process different odor signals

Mitral cells send impulses to:

• The olfactory cortex

• The hypothalamus, amygdala, and limbic system
Less old & Newer
olfactory system
The Very Old Olfactory System

The medial olfactory area consists of a group of nuclei located in the

midbasal portions of the brain

Septal nuclei & primitive portions of the limbic system

Licking the lips, salivation, and other feeding responses caused by

the smell of food

Very old olfactory system that subserves the basic olfactory reflexes.
The Less Old Olfactory System

The lateral olfactory area is composed of the prepyriform and pyriform

cortex and the cortical portion of the amygdaloid nuclei.

From these areas, signal pathways pass into hippocampus - for learning
to like or dislike (nausea and vomiting) foods. Partially learned control
of food intake and aversion to toxic and unhealthy foods

From lateral olfactory area signal pass directly into the paleocortex in
the anteromedial portion of the temporal lobe. Here sensory signals
pass directly to the cortex without passing first through the thalamus.
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The Newer Pathway.

A newer olfactory pathway has passes through

the thalamus, passing to the dorsomedial
thalamic nucleus and then to the lateroposterior
quadrant of the orbitofrontale cortex.

It is used for conscious perception and analysis of

olfaction (odor).
Learning Resources

Textbook
• John E. Hall and Michael E. Hall. Textbook of Medical Physiology. 14th ed.
Elsevier. 2021. ISBN: 978-0-323-59712-8. Chapter: 54. Page no. 675-682

• Power-point presentation in the moodle