Odor Molecules

Definition

Odor molecules are chemical compounds that are released into the air from various sources, such as food, flowers, or even body odor. They have specific chemical structures that allow them to interact with receptors in our nose and produce a sense of smell.

Related terms

Olfactory Receptors:

Olfactory receptors are specialized nerve cells in the nasal cavity that detect and transmit information about smells to the brain.

Chemoreception: Chemoreception refers to the sensory process by which organisms respond to chemical stimuli in their environment.

Sense of Smell:

Sense of smell, or olfaction, is one of our five main senses and allows us to perceive odors through the detection of odor molecules by our olfactory receptors.