Which type of receptor is primarily involved in the sense of smell?

The sense of smell, or olfaction, is primarily mediated by chemoreceptors. These specialized receptors are sensitive to chemical substances in the air. When odorant molecules enter the nasal cavity, they bind to chemoreceptors located in the olfactory epithelium. This binding initiates a series of cellular events that lead to the generation of electrical signals, which the brain interprets as specific smells.

Chemoreceptors are essential for detecting various chemical stimuli, such as those found in food, the environment, or other organisms. In the context of olfaction, their ability to respond to a wide range of volatile substances allows us to perceive and differentiate thousands of different odors.

On the other hand, photoreceptors are involved in the sense of sight, detecting light; mechanoreceptors respond to mechanical forces such as touch or sound; and thermoreceptors sense temperature changes. Each type of receptor has its specific function and area of expertise, but for the sense of smell, chemoreceptors play the central role.