olfaktív

Olfaktív is an adjective used to describe anything related to the sense of smell or the olfactory system. In medical and scientific literature, it is used to refer to olfactory receptors, the olfactory epithelium, the olfactory bulb, and neural pathways involved in odor detection and processing. The term derives from Latin olfactus “smell” through French olfactif and English olfactory, with cognate forms in various languages that use suffixes such as -ív or -if to form adjectives.

Odor detection begins in the olfactory epithelium at the roof of the nasal cavity, where olfactory receptor neurons bind odorant molecules. Signals pass via the olfactory nerve (cranial nerve I) to the olfactory bulb and then to higher cortical areas, including the piriform cortex, orbitofrontal cortex, amygdala, and hippocampus, supporting odor identification, memory, and emotional associations.

Olfaktív function can be affected by infection, trauma, chronic rhinosinusitis, exposure to toxins, or neurodegenerative diseases. Conditions include anosmia (loss of smell), hyposmia (reduced sense of smell), and parosmia (distorted smells). Assessment methods include olfactometry and standardized smell tests, such as UPSIT or Sniffin’ Sticks.

Beyond biology and medicine, olfactív research informs perfumery, flavor science, and environmental monitoring, where odor cues are important.