PHGY 209 Lecture Notes - Lecture 22: Olfactory Bulb, Olfactory Receptor, Olfactory Tract

• School: McGill University
• Department: Physiology
• Course: PHGY 209
• Professor: Alvin Shrier

Document Summary

Odors we smell go up in the nasal cavity and then the molecules bind to receptor in the olfactory epithelium (binding the top of cavity), dissolve in the mucus and bind in the olfactory receptor cells. Every olfactory cell has its own receptor 1000 unique odor receptors. Cilia contains the receptors that the odorant molecule must bind to. Olfactory receptor cells are then activated and transmit the information to the brain (by the olfactory nerve and then synapses in the olfactory bulb, and finally to the brain through the olfactory tract) Transduction process: odor bind to the receptor of the receptor cell, initiating a g-protein cascade which ends up opening ion channels. As we chew foods, molecules are released from the food and work their way into the nasal cavity. Olfaction is what gives the sense of taste. To remember: chemoreceptors link ion channels via g-protein cascade. Olfactory bulb projects directly to the limbic system and generates emotional response.