Explain how the olfactory system functions in order to allow one to smell different odors.

When chemical substances are inhaled, they travel in through the nostrils and up to the nasal cavity where the olfactory cilia are located. The olfactory cilia are the sensory receptors for smell. They convert the chemical substances into neural signals and then transmit these signals to the olfactory bulb, which is located at the base of the brain. The olfactory cilia then relay the neural signals to the olfactory cortex and other areas of the brain.