The Human Sense of Smell

Often being vastly underrated the human sense of smell plays an essential role in our life, e.g. in food acceptance, fragrance appreciation, and as a warning device for spoiled food, toxic gases and the presence of fire. The book provides a multidisciplinary up-to-date review of the structure and function of the sense of smell and of how it is influenced by the environment and diseases. It is divided into the following 5 sections: - Anatomy, Physiology and Chemistry - Measurement of OlfactoryResponses - Development and Senescense - Basic Characteristics of Human Olfaction - Clinical and Health Aspects of Olfaction.

Inhalt
1 Anatomy, Physiology and Chemistry.- 1. The Ultrastructure of the Human Olfactory Mucosa.- 2. Anatomy of the Human Olfactory Bulb and Central Olfactory Pathways.- 3. Physiology of Olfactory Reception and Transduction: General Principles.- 4. Molecular Structure and Smell.- 2 Measurement of Olfactory Responses.- 5. Psychophysical Measurement of Odor Perception in Humans.- 6. Human Electro-Olfactograms and Brain Responses to Olfactory Stimulation.- 3 Development and Senescence.- 7. Olfactory Function in Neonates.- 8. Olfactory Preferences in Children and Adults.- 9. Influences of Aging on Human Olfactory Function.- 4 Basic Characteristics of Human Olfaction.- 10. Olfactory Adaptation.- 11. Memory for Odors.- 12. Characteristics of the Human Sense of Smell when Processing Odor Mixtures.- 13. Comparison of Odor Perception in Humans and Animals.- 5 Clinical and Health Aspects of Olfaction.- 14. Olfactory Dysfunction.- 15. Epidemiology and its Application to Olfactory Dysfunction.- 16. Influence of Drugs on Smell Function.- 17. Effects of Odors on Mood and Behavior: Aromatherapy and Related Effects.