Encyclopedia of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery

2013 Edition
| Editors: Stilianos E. Kountakis

Anosmia

Reference work entry
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-23499-6_801
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Definition

Loss of the ability to smell

Introduction

Anosmia – loss of the ability to smell – has significant safety, nutritional, and quality-of-life consequences. Nearly all patients presenting with “loss of taste” have, in fact, decreased smell function. Most food flavors, such as cola, coffee, strawberry, pizza, and vanilla, are largely dependent upon stimulation of the olfactory receptors from volatiles that arise from the rear of the oral cavity during chewing and swallowing (so-called retronasal olfactory stimulation). Such “taste” sensations disappear when the olfactory epithelium is severely damaged. What is left intact are only sensations from taste buds (e.g., sweet, sour, salty, bitter, metallic, and umami (monosodium glutamate–like) sensations) and free nerve endings of the trigeminal nerve (e.g., coolness, warmth, sharpness, and irritation).

In a study of 750 consecutive patients presenting with mainly decrements in the ability to smell, 68% reported altered quality of...

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References

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Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2013

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck SurgerySmell and Taste Center, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Medical CenterPhiladelphiaUSA