Biology of smell

5 important questions on Biology of smell

What are the functions of smell

Social
  • perfumes and hygiene
  • "pheromones"?
  • Emotions, mood and memory


Safety
  • fire
  • gas leak
  • spoiled foods
  • toxins


Symptom neurological disease

Food
  • anticipation phase of eating: appetite
  • during consumption: flavour

What is the dual role of olfaction?

So smell is involved in food anticipation and flavour perception, as these functions have different pathways or routs of entry, this represents the dual role of olfaction.

First there is Orthonasal smell
  • Which is that you perceive from the environment (Food anticipation)

Second there is Retronasal smell
  • which is takes place when you chew on the food (Flavour perception)

What are the 2 olfactory dysfunctions? And what can cause it?

Hyposmis (gedeeltelijk geurverlies)
Anosmia (geheel geurverlies)

  • Age
  • Respiratory tract infection
  • Head trauma
  • Toxins, drugs, medication
  • Chronic disease


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Beyond the olfactory bulb two unique features happen, which one?

Unique features
  1. ipsilateral
  2. no thalamus

Which methods can be used for measuring odor perception in humans.

  • Sniffin'Sticks
    • pens filled with odors
      • identification ability
      • discrimination ability
      • detection threshold
  • UPSIT
    • scratch and sniff boeklets
      • odor identification ability
  • Olfactometer
    • can deliver odorants in a very controlled and precise way
      • illiberal tests for olfactory function



(products
  • aroma wheels)

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