Table of contents:

1. Structure of the nose
2. The nose as an organ of smell
3. Olfactory disorders and their effects
4. Treatment of olfactory disorders

Structure of the nose

The nose plays a huge role in the proper functioning of the entire human body. Despite appearances, its structure is extremely complex. The individual features of the nose, such as its size, the presence of a characteristic "hump" or the size of the nostrils, are genetically determined. The part of the nose that we see every day is the so-called external nose, which has a root, a shaft and the so-called tip. The nasal cavity, or the inside of the nose, is characterised by a rather complex structure. The nasal cavity includes, among others, the nasal cavity proper, paranasal sinuses, frontal sinuses, maxillary sinuses or sieve cells. The nasal cavity is connected to the nasopharynx via the nasopharyngeal duct. Within the nasal cavity, there is also the so-called nasal septum, which divides it into two parts. The ocular arteries and the maxillary arteries are responsible for the innervation of the nasal cavity. The venous network is connected to the so-called sieve veins, which guide the blood to, among others, the superior ocular vein.

The nose as an organ of smell

The nose is the organ into which the air inhaled from outside enters and through which we exhale the air consumed during gas exchange. It is the nasal cavity that plays an important role in protecting us from micro-organisms and pollutants that we inhale from outside, which could pose a threat to health or life. The nose also plays a role as a sense of smell and a sense that aids the sensation of taste! In times of illness, when the nasal cavity is blocked by secretions, foods usually appear to us as sterile and tasteless - proof of the great role the sense of smell plays in the correct perception of taste stimuli.

Olfactory disorders and their effects

Olfactory disorders can be caused by many factors, such as:

• disorders of the normal functioning of the nervous system accompanying diseases, for example schizophrenia or Alzhimer's,
• damage to the cerebral cortex,
• damage to the part of the brain that is responsible for the sense of smell,
• dysfunction or damage to the amygdala or limbic system,
• allergy,
• rhinitis,
• sinusitis,
• damage to the nasal septum,
• polyps and growths in the nasal cavity,
• tumour of the nose or nasopharynx,
• cranial injuries,
• aneurysm in the brain,
• tobacco abuse, drug addiction,
• acute viral infections,
• bronchial asthma,
• thyroid disease.

Olfactory disorders, photo: panthermedia

Olfactory disorders can be divided into qualitative and quantitative disorders. Qualitative olfactory disorders include kakosomia, i.e. attacks of repugnant odours; pseudosomia, odours that do not characterise an object and it is impossible for an object to give off odours; phantosomia, hallucinatory odours of a non-existent nature; and angosomia, complete loss of the ability to smell. Qualitative disorders are mainly considered to be caused by disorders of the nervous system resulting from damage to the brain or parts of the brain (especially the limbic system). Quantitative disorders are associated with an incorrect estimation of the intensity of the odours perceived. Among quantitative disorders, a distinction is made between anosomia, i.e. loss of the sense of smell, hyposomia, a weakening of the sense of smell, and hypersomia, a sharpening and hypersensitivity to odours.

Treatment of olfactory disorders

Before a doctor can take the appropriate steps to help with olfactory disorders, it is essential that a proper diagnosis is made to identify the cause of the problem. By removing the cause, the chances are that a properly functioning sense of smell will return. In cases where an upper respiratory tract infection is responsible for the olfactory disorder, everything should return to normal once the infection is cured. In cases where olfactory problems persist after the symptoms have disappeared, contact a doctor. In the case of a sudden onset of olfactory problems, it is advisable to see a doctor as soon as possible to take a medical history and carry out a simple test to distinguish and identify smells when the patient's eyes are closed. Once the history has been taken, the doctor may refer the patient for an ENT examination - for example to assess whether the patient is suffering from a lesion in the nasal cavity. When the patient first has a cranial injury, the doctor may refer the patient for an MRI scan. What is important: in the history, the doctor will ask about any medicines taken and past illnesses. Many medicinal products used incorrectly can contribute to olfactory disorders.

The recovery of the sense of smell depends on the severity of the disease and the treatment undertaken. The final prognosis depends on a number of factors: age, past illnesses, injuries/ It is determined by the doctor during the medical history taking.