Name That Definition
This body part detects scent molecules when you breathe in.
nose
These are the two openings through which air enters your nose
nostrils
This word means a smell, such as the smell of a flower
Scent
This action draws air and scent molecules into your nose when you want to smell something.
Sniffing
You smell cookies baking from another room. How does the smell reach your nose?
Scent molecules travel through the air and enter your nose.
This organ recognizes and identifies different smells.
brain
This is the space inside your nose that air passes through
nasal cavity
This is another word for a smell. It can be pleasant or unpleasant.
odor
This sense helps you notice the scent of popcorn without seeing it
sense of smell
Your nose detects a smell, which organ figures out whether it is cookies or popcorn?
Your brain identifies the smell
This word means to notice or discover something using your senses.
detect
This slippery substance inside your nose helps trap dust and dissolve scent molecules
mucus
These tiny particles from things such as flowers or food travel through the air and reach your nose.
scent molecules
This word means to recognize what something is...for example, deciding that a smell comes from an orange.
identify
Why might food seem to have less flavor when your nose is stuffed up?
Fewer scent molecules reach your smell receptors. Smell helps you experience flavor.
This word describes a smell that many people enjoy.
pleasant
These special cells detect scent molecules and start messages that travel toward the brain.
smell receptors
These carry messages from smell receptor cells toward the brain.
nerves
This structure receives signals from smell receptor cells before sending information farther into the brain.
olfactory bulb
You notice a strong smell when you enter a room, but after several minutes you barley notice it. Does that prove the smell is gone? Explain
No, your sense of smell can get used to it. This is called adaptation.
This word describes a smell that many people do not enjoy
unpleasant
These tiny hairlike structures on smell receptor cells help detect scent molecules
cilia
This scientific word means "related to the sense of smell."
Olfactory
This word describes your brain getting used to a smell, so you notice it less after a while
Adaptation
A student says, "My nostrils identify smells, and my brain catches scent molecules." Correct both mistakes.
Smell receptors inside the nose detect scent molecules. The brain receives signals and identifies the smell.