Olfaction

Question 1

What is olfaction?

Answer 1

The sense of smell

Question 2

What is the sense of smell dependent on?

Answer 2

Receptors that respond to airborn particles

Question 3

Where are the paired olfactory organs?

Answer 3

In the nasal cavity, either side of the nasal septum.
They have specialised receptors on the cilia

Question 4

How often are olfactory neurons replaced?

Answer 4

Every 4-6 weeks

Question 5

What is olfactory discrimination?

Answer 5

The epithilium is divided into areas of receptors with particular sensitivity for certain smells
The CNS interprets each smell by analysing the pattern of receptor activity

Question 6

Describe how we smell

Answer 6

It starts when molecules are sniffed
At the back of the nose, there is olfactory epithelium which has layers of receptors
These have special neurons that sense smells
Molecules binds to the receptors and are sent to the olfactory tract in the brain

Question 7

Watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaHR2MAxywg