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== Sense of Smell ==

The '''Sense of Smell''' (pronunciation: /sɛns ɒv smɛl/), also known as '''Olfaction''' (pronunciation: /ɒlˈfækʃən/), is one of the five traditional senses. It refers to the ability to detect and identify the fragrances or odors of certain substances. The etymology of the term "olfaction" comes from the Latin words "olfactus", past participle of "olfacere" to smell, from "olere" to smell + "facere" to make.

== Function ==

The sense of smell is primarily used to detect volatile chemicals in the environment. This is achieved through the olfactory system, which includes the [[Olfactory epithelium|olfactory epithelium]] and the [[Olfactory bulb|olfactory bulb]]. The olfactory epithelium contains specialized sensory neurons that are activated by odor molecules, while the olfactory bulb processes the sensory information and sends it to other parts of the brain.

== Related Terms ==

* [[Olfactory system]]: The sensory system used for smelling.
* [[Olfactory receptor]]: A type of protein found in the olfactory neurons of the nose.
* [[Olfactory bulb]]: A structure of the vertebrate forebrain involved in olfaction.
* [[Olfactory epithelium]]: A specialized epithelial tissue inside the nasal cavity that is involved in smell.
* [[Anosmia]]: The loss of the sense of smell, either total or partial.
* [[Hyperosmia]]: An increased olfactory acuity (heightened sense of smell).
* [[Hyposmia]]: A reduced ability to smell and to detect odors.
* [[Phantosmia]]: The phenomenon of smelling odors that aren't really present.

== See Also ==

* [[Sense of taste]]
* [[Olfactory fatigue]]
* [[Olfactory nerve]]

[[Category:Olfaction]]
[[Category:Senses]]
[[Category:Neuroscience]]

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