Sense of Smell; Nasal Mucous Production & Drainage_Dea

Natalia_130110110190_E3/Respi
SENSE OF SMELL
Olfactory Membrane
lies in superior part of each nostril
medially, folds downward along surface of superior septum
laterally, folds over superior turbinate and small portion of upper surface of middle turbinate
has surface area about 2.4 cm2 per nostril
Olfactory Cells
bipolar nerve cells derived from CNS
about 100 million of the cells are in olfactory epithelium interspersed among sustentacular cells
mucosal end of olfactory cell forms a knob from which 4-25 olfactory hairs (cilia), 0.3 m in
diameter and up to 200 m in length, project into the mucus that coats inner surface of nasal
cavity
spaced among olfactory cells are small Bowmans glands that secrete mucus onto the surface of
olfactory membrane
Mechanism of Excitation of Olfactory Cells
odorant substance come in contact with olfactory membrane, diffuse into mucus and bind with
receptor proteins in membrane of each cilium that folds to the outside
on excitation of receptor protein, an alpha subunit breaks away from G-protein and activates
adenylyl cyclase
activated cyclase converts intracellular adenosine triphosphate into cAMP
cAMP activates gated sodium ion channel, allowing large numbers of sodium ions to pour through
the membrane into receptor cell cytoplasm
sodium ions increase electrical potential in positive direction, excite olfactory neuron and transmit
action potentials into CNS by olfactory nerve
physical factors affecting stimulation degree:
1. only volatile substance that can be sniffed into nostril can be smelled
2. stimulating substance must be at least slightly water soluble so that it can pass through mucus
to reach olfactory cilia
3. substance should be slightly lipid soluble as lipid constituents of cilium are weak barrier to nonlipid soluble odorants
Transmission of Smell Signals
afferent fibers arising from the receptor endings in the nose pass through tiny holes in the flat bone
plate separating the olfactory mucosa from the overlying brain tissue
synapse in the olfactory bulb, a complex neural structure containing several different layers of cells
that are functionally similar to the retinal layers of the eye
each olfactory bulb is lined by small ball-like neural junctions known as glomeruli; within each
glomerulus, the terminals of receptor cells carrying information about a particular scent component
synapse with the next cells in the olfactory pathway, the mitral cells
mitral cells on which the olfactory receptors terminate in the glomeruli refine the smell signals and
relay them to the brain for further processing
fibers leaving the olfactory bulb travel in two different routes:
1. a subcortical route going primarily to regions of the limbic system, especially the lower medial
sides of the temporal lobes (considered the primary olfactory cortex). This route, which includes
hypothalamic involvement, permits close coordination between smell and behavioral reactions
associated with feeding, mating, and direction orienting.
2. a route through the thalamus to the cortex. As with other senses, the cortical route is important
for conscious perception and fine discrimination of smell.