Odors are Detected by the _______

Question

Odors are detected by the _______.
A) papillae on the tongue
B) olfactory nerve
C) pores in the nasal concha
D) olfactory epithelium

Accepted Answer

Odors are detected by the olfactory epithelium, which is located in the upper portion of the nasal cavity. This membrane contains specialized receptor cells that bind to specific odor molecules and send signals through the olfactory nerve to the brain for interpretation. The other options listed relate to taste sensation (papillae on the tongue) and nasal airflow (nasal concha).