Which structure enables the sense of smell and is located at the top of the nasal cavity?

Which structure enables the sense of smell and is located at the top of the nasal cavity?

• A. Olfactory organ
• B. Nasal polyps
• C. Epistaxis
• D. Otitis media

Answer: (A)

Smell is detected by specialized sensory tissue at the roof of the nasal cavity—the olfactory organ. This sits in the olfactory epithelium on the upper part of the nasal cavity and contains the olfactory receptor neurons that pick up odor molecules. Signals from these receptors travel through the olfactory nerve to the brain, giving us our sense of smell. The other options aren’t involved in sensing odors: nasal polyps are mucous membrane growths that can block airflow, epistaxis means a nosebleed, and otitis media is an infection of the middle ear.

Smell is detected by specialized sensory tissue at the roof of the nasal cavity—the olfactory organ. This sits in the olfactory epithelium on the upper part of the nasal cavity and contains the olfactory receptor neurons that pick up odor molecules. Signals from these receptors travel through the olfactory nerve to the brain, giving us our sense of smell. The other options aren’t involved in sensing odors: nasal polyps are mucous membrane growths that can block airflow, epistaxis means a nosebleed, and otitis media is an infection of the middle ear.