El olfato - Las partes que intervienen en el olfato - Los sentidos para niños
The Sense of Smell
In this section, we will learn about the sense of smell and how it works.
The Nose and its Functions
- The nose is the organ responsible for the sense of smell.
- It perceives odors and sends information to the brain for appropriate responses.
- Besides smelling, the nose also has other important functions:
- It is the entry point for the air we breathe, cleaning and filtering it to prevent impurities from reaching the lungs.
- It humidifies and warms the air.
Organs Involved in Smell
- Fossa Nasals:
- Two openings in the nose that allow odors to enter into the nasal cavity.
- Nasal Cavity:
- Located above the palate bone and connected to the throat.
- Covered by a mucous membrane that keeps it moist.
- Cilia:
- Tiny hairs in the nose that clean and filter the air.
- Olfactory Membrane:
- Found at the top of the nasal cavity.
- Contains cells responsible for collecting odor information and sending it to the brain through olfactory nerves.
Impaired Sense of Smell
- When experiencing a cold or congestion, our sense of smell may be affected.
- The nose gets blocked, making it difficult to perceive smells or reducing their intensity.
These are some key points about how our sense of smell works.