The olfactory (OS) system is one of the most important, underappreciated, and complicated structures in the brain. It is a key to many aspects of life, from navigating the world to remembering our lives. It has very direct pathways to regions of the brain involved in memory, emotions, reproduction, and thought.

The main olfactory mandemakers keukens detects general odorants, such as small organic molecules and pheromones. There is also a vomeronasal organ in some species, such as snakes, insects, and rodents, that detects pheromones and other chemosensory signals related to mating and sexual behavior.

When a molecule of an odorant enters the nose, it causes a membrane potential change that triggers hundreds of olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) to fire action potentials. Each of these neurons are sensitive to a particular odorant, and they all converge on a specific area of the olfactory bulb (OB) known as a glomerulus. This axonal convergence pattern reflects the anatomical organization of the olfactory system.

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From the glomerulus, olfactory signals are sent to other parts of the brain via an olfactory nerve (AN). These signals travel to the olfactory cortex, which is a specialized part of the temporal lobe that is important in spatial, autobiographical, declarative, and episodic memories. Olfactory stimuli may also activate visceral responses, such as salivation and gastric acid secretion, as well as autonomic adjustments, like changes in heart rate and blood pressure. The research is still ongoing to determine exactly how this happens.