SMELL & TASTE
Glossary
Please find below a glossary of terms and phrases to do with Smell & Taste that you may come accross on our website.
Smell Disorders
Anosmia
The inability to smell.
Cacosmia
An unpleasant form of parosmia (a distortion in the sense of smell).
Congenital Anosmia
The inability to smell since birth.
Dysosmia
A non-specific term referring to a disturbance in the sense of smell.
Functional Anosmia
A person that is able to detect occasional odours but have no practical day-to-day sense of smell.
Hyposmia
A reduced sense of smell.
Hyperosmia
A hypersensitive sense of smell.
Idiopathic Anosmia
This refers to patients in whom after extensive testing no cause for the loss of sense of smell is found.
Normosmia
A functional sense of smell.
Parosmia
A distortion of the sense of smell in the presence of a stimulus.
Phantosmia
A sensation of a smell in the absence of a stimulus.
Taste Disorders
Ageusia
The inability to taste.
Dysgeusia
A distortion in the sense of taste.
Causations
Chronic Rhinosinusitis (CRS)
Chronic Rhinosinusitis is a long-lasting sinus inflammation (swelling) and infection that can occur both with or without nasal polyps.
Kallmann Syndrome
A condition characterised by delayed or absent puberty that can result in an impaired sense of smell.
Nasal Polyps
Nasal polyps are painless soft growths inside your nose. They're not usually serious, but they can keep growing and block your nose if not treated.
Post-Viral Olfactory Loss
Smell loss (anosmia) that is caused by a viral infection.
Post-Traumatic Olfactory loss
The loss of the sense of smell due to a head injury.
Aspirin-Exacerbated Respiratory Disease (AERD)
A chronic medical condition consisting of asthma, sinus disease with recurring nasal polyps, and aspirin sensitivity. This condition is also called Samter's Triad.
The Human Body
Flavour
The experience of retronasal olfaction (internally smelling while we chew).
Gustation
The action of tasting.
Limbic System
The part of the brain that regulates smell/memory and emotions.
Mouth Smell
The internal smell in our mouth that distinguishes flavour.
Olfaction
The medical term for the sense of smell.
Olfactory Bulb
The olfactory bulb is a nervous structure related to the sense of smell. It is an extension of the nervous tissue of the brain that extends to the roof of the nasal cavity.
Olfactory Nerve
The nerve (consisting of a bundle of many sensory fibres) that transmits impulses from the olfactory receptor cells to the brain.
Olfactory Neurones or Receptor Cells
Cells that are embedded in a layer of mucous membrane at the top of the nasal cavity that generate an impulse on detection of an odour molecule from whatever substance we are smelling. Humans have around 6 million receptor cells in each nostril.
Orthonasal Olfaction
The odours that we detect externally.
Retronasal Olfaction
The odours we detect internally from the back of our nose from our mouth, when chewing food. This is how we appreciate the flavour of food when it is in our mouth and why many people with a smell disorder believe that there is something wrong with their sense of taste.
Trigeminal Nerve
The facial nerve responsible for motor functions and sensations in the face.
Umami
The fifth basic taste. Umami is a Japanese word which means ‘pleasant savoury taste’, and is the taste of glutamic acid, more commonly known as glutamate.
Other Terms
ENT
The acronym for ear, nose and throat.
CT Scan
A computerised tomography (CT) scan uses X-rays and a computer to create detailed images of the inside of the body.
MRI Scan
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a type of scan that uses strong magnetic fields and radio waves to produce detailed images of the inside of the body.
Neti Pot
A small container with a long spout used to rinse the nasal cavities.
Rhinology
The branch of medicine concerned with conditions affecting the nose.
Sniffin’ Sticks
Pen-like devices that dispense odours, used in the clinical evaluation of olfactory function.
Smell Training
A technique that is used by people to help them to possible recover their sense of smell. You can read more about this here: Smell Training - Fifth Sense
Sinus Rinsing
The process of passing a water-based solution through the nose to clear blockages.
SmellAbility©
An assortment of tools to support people affected by a smell disorder: Smell Training - Fifth Sense
#LetTalkSmellAndTaste
Events created by Fifth Sense to support people affected by smell and taste disorders: #LetsTalkSmellAndTaste Events - Fifth Sense
Chemicals
Mercaptan
A chemical added to natural gas to give it an odour.