title: Retronasal perception of odors.
abstract: We perceive odors orthonasally during sniffing; in contrast, we perceive odors retronasally during eating when they enter the nose through the pharynx. There are clear differences between orthonasal and retronasal olfaction in neuronal processing and perception, so that these two pathways convey two distinct sensory signals. The perception of foods is based on the interaction between ortho- and retronasal smell, taste, trigeminal activation and texture, so it is difficult to investigate one of these factors in isolation. Specific clinical aspects include effects of retronasal olfaction on satiation and swallowing.
authors.affiliation: Smell and Taste Clinic, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Technical University of Dresden Medical School, Fetscherstrasse 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: Viola
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bojanowski
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hummel
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000294:innervation* / Q000502:physiology; D009434:Neural Pathways; D009666:Nose / Q000294:innervation* / Q000502:physiology*; D055696:Olfactory Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D012903:Smell / Q000502:physiology*; D013649:Taste / Q000502:physiology*; D055697:Taste Perception / Q000502:physiology; D055698:Touch Perception / Q000502:physiology