Retronasal Olf Reaction Lab Report

Discussion The purpose of this lab is to display the influence of retronasal olfaction when it comes to flavor. Humans have two different types of olfaction. Olfaction is the detection of chemicals in the air. These chemicals which are meant to activate odor receptors, are called odorants. Humans have approximately 20 million olfactory receptors, which is only a fraction compared to bloodhounds who have 4 billion. The first type of olfaction is called orthonasal olfaction which is inhaling. Here odorants travel through the air into the nostrils until they reach the nasal receptors. Retronasal olfaction on the other hand, refers to breathing from the mouth. Here the odorants enter the mouth and go through the nasopharynx, and finally reach
These cells are necessary for the transduction process. This process begins when odorant molecules arrive the mucus layer of the epithelium. First, odorant receptors are g-protein coupled receptors. The molecules are binded to the g-coupled protein receptors. When these g-protein coupled receptors change shape, they cause an activation. These odorant receptors are located olfactory sensory neuron’s cilia. These neurons die and are replaced every few weeks. From that point, the transduction happens which is an action potential. The cribriform plate separates the nose and the brain, which is where the neurons travels. The synapse then occurs at Glomeruli in the olfactory bulb. In the following step the cells and mitral axons form the lateral olfactory tract. Finally, this tract travels from the olfactory bulb to the limbic system. From the olfactory bulb, olfactory information is processed in the primary olfactory cortex, amygdala, septal nuclei, hippocampus, and the entorhinal cortex. An important factor which has to do with olfactory information is that it can be associated with the limbic system. This refers to the memories that are associated with odors and emotional