Smell
Smell
Smell (/smɛl/), also known as olfaction, is one of the five traditional senses. It refers to the ability to detect and identify substances in the environment by the sensory organs in the nose, specifically the olfactory bulb.
Etymology
The word "smell" comes from the Old English smellian, which means "to smell, perceive by the nose". It is related to the Dutch smellen and the German schmellen, both of which also mean "to smell".
Anatomy of Smell
The process of smell involves several anatomical structures. The olfactory epithelium, located in the upper part of the nasal cavity, contains specialized sensory neurons that are activated by odor molecules. These neurons send signals to the olfactory bulb, a structure in the brain that processes these signals and allows us to perceive different smells.
Related Terms
- Olfactory bulb: The part of the brain that receives neural input about odors detected by cells in the nasal cavity.
- Olfactory epithelium: A specialized epithelial tissue inside the nasal cavity that is involved in smell.
- Olfactory receptor: A type of protein on the surface of sensory cells in the nose that can detect different odor molecules.
- Anosmia: The loss of the sense of smell, either total or partial. It may be caused by head injury, infection, or blockage of the nasal passage.
- Hyperosmia: An increased sensitivity to odors, which can be caused by various conditions, including migraines and pregnancy.
- Phantosmia: The perception of a smell that isn't actually present. It's also known as an olfactory hallucination.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Smell
- Wikipedia's article - Smell
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