ABSTRACT
The human oral cavity is potentially connected to the nasal cavity by way of the buccopharynx (oropharynx), pharynx, and nasopharynx [1, 2]. Under those circumstances in which this potential connection is open, the air movement of an exhalation that exits from the anterior nares (nostrils) can acquire odorants from the oral cavity and move them through the nasal cavity. If these odorants, while in the nasal cavity, reach the olfactory mucosa at a flow rate and concentration [3, 4] that allow penetration to olfactory receptor neurons [5] and activation of these receptors such that sufficient central nervous system (CNS) responses develop, retronasal olfaction may occur. A limitation to the present understanding of retronasal olfaction is the absence of empirical or numerical models of retronasal odorant transport in adult humans. Such models have been published for orthonasal olfaction via the anterior nares [4, 6] but are not presently available for retronasal olfaction (experimental airflow and odorant uptake analysis is in progress: PW Scherer, personal communication, October 2002).
