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The nasal cavity is a large, air-filled space located behind the nose. As illustrated in side-view diagrams of the human head, its upper region houses the olfactory receptor cells and lies just below the olfactory bulb, making it the primary anatomical site where the sensation of smell begins.

Nasal Cavity

A person with a severe head cold and significant nasal congestion complains that their food tastes bland and they cannot smell the coffee they are brewing. Which statement best explains this experience based on the structures involved in the sense of smell?

Situated within the mucous membrane at the roof of the nasal cavity, olfactory receptor cells are specialized sensory neurons. As shown in side-view anatomical illustrations, they feature hair-like extensions that function as binding sites for odorants dissolved in mucus, initiating the sensory transduction process for smell before transmitting signals to the olfactory bulb.

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