Smell

Question 1

<p>Where does smell detection begin?</p>

Answer 1

<p>The olfactory epithelium at the top of the nasal cavity</p>

Question 2

<p>Describe the structure of the olfactory epithelium</p>

Answer 2

<p>Olfactory receptor neurons within the olfactory epithelium, extend their dendrites into the nasal mucosa, a thin layer of cells that covers the nasal cavity. The axons of the olfactory receptor neurons connect the olfactory epithelium to the mitral cells located in the olfactory bulb in the brain.</p>

Question 3

<p>How does the smell travel from the air into the brain?</p>

Answer 3

<p>As the air flows into the nose, the chemicals in the air bind to the olfactory receptor neurons which sends signals to the olfactory bulb and from there through the olfactory nerves running down the ventral aspect of the brain to the primary olfactory cortex in the temporal cortex. From there, the information is passed to two major brain areas-- the orbital frontal cortex via the thalamus and the limbic system. </p>

Question 4

<p>What brain structures make up the limbic system</p>

Answer 4

<p> amygdala
hippocampus
thalamus</p>

Question 5

<p>define asomnia</p>

Answer 5

Anosmia is the term used to describe the loss of the sense of smell. This can be brought about by traumatic head injury or as a consequence of disease (for example, Alzheimer’s disease), or it may be congenital (i.e. some people are born without the capacity for olfaction).