Smell, Smell, where have my Smell Receptors gone!!! (By Lian Paul)

 *(Singing Voice)* Ohh where, Ohh where have my smell receptors gone…Ohh where OOhh where have they gone.

While doing the Respiratory System in our Anatomy and Physiology class, we came across the Nose being one of the main entrances for taking in air and then the mouth. We’ve learnt from our teacher that there are persons in the world today who can lost their sense of smell caused by an olfactory disease, in these case my mind set was based on how do persons go from having a sense of smell to not being able to and what possibly is the point of this disease.

There are many types disorders/disease of the smell receptors. Our smell receptors are also known as our Olfactory Receptors. 

And YES! These receptors could go bad to the point where we smell nothing at all. One’s sense of smell is controlled by a specific process. First off, a molecule released from a substance for e.g. A fragrance from a flower, must stimulate special nerve cells which are called olfactory cells that, are found high up in the nose. These nerve cells then send information to the brain where the specific smell is identified. Anything that interferes with these processes, such as nasal congestion, nasal blockage, or damage to the nerve cells themselves, can lead to the loss of smell.

Anosmia is a type of olfactory disorder, where there is a permanent or temporary loss of the ability to perceive smell/odour, or a lack of functioning olfaction cells. Anosmia is caused by inflammatory changes in the nasal passageways and this is simply treated by reducing inflammation, if it’s only a temporary loss of smell. Nasal congestion from a cold, allergy, sinus infections, or poor air quality is the most common cause of anosmia. While most of us take our sense of smell for granted, there are individuals who are wishing they still had their sense of smell. Have you ever thought about what it would be like no being able to smell? The loss of smell affects our taste and we all have experience temporary anosmia when we come into contact with a common cold, the flu, allergic reactions or during the irritation of our sinus.

To avoid the loss of our smell receptors we have to be careful as to what pesticides, or even different chemicals that we may come into contact with. The use of cocaine my also cause a lost in these receptors especially when it is used by inhalation, these drugs should not be taken so the loss of these smell receptors can be prevented. Temporary anosmia is very rear but different practices can cause it to occur.