Olfactory Receptors: Structure & Role in Smell Perception
Olfactory receptors are sensory neurons in the olfactory epithelium (roof of nasal cavity) that detect odorants.
Epithelium Layers
- Basal layer – stem cells for regeneration.
- Sustentacular cells – support, insulation, detoxification.
- Olfactory receptor cells – bipolar neurons; dendrites with cilia bind odorants; axons form olfactory nerve (CN I) to olfactory bulb.
Signal Transduction
Odorant binding → G-protein cascade → cAMP → cation channel opening → depolarization → action potential to brain.
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