Biomaterial Database

Olfactory reflexes in the newborn infant. 1978

H B Sarnat

Clinical responses to peppermint odor were observed in 100 healthy term and preterm infants during active sleep on two successive days. Thirty-six asphyxiated term infants and three infants with holoprosencephaly also were tested. Olfactory reflexes were regularly elicited in normal infants after 32 weeks' gestation, but some premature infants as young as 28 weeks also responded. Responses included initiation of sucking and arousal-withdrawal. Habituation occurred after two or three trials. A Moro response was seen only in a few asphyxiated infants; loss of olfactory reflexes appeared to parallel suppression of brainstem reflexes. Olfactory reflexes are useful in excluding cerebral malformations associated with agenesis of the olfactory bulbs.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007231	Infant, Newborn	An infant during the first 28 days after birth.	Neonate,Newborns,Infants, Newborn,Neonates,Newborn,Newborn Infant,Newborn Infants
D008297	Male		Males
D009460	Neurologic Examination	Assessment of sensory and motor responses and reflexes that is used to determine impairment of the nervous system.	Examination, Neurologic,Neurological Examination,Examination, Neurological,Examinations, Neurologic,Examinations, Neurological,Neurologic Examinations,Neurological Examinations
D009812	Odorants	The volatile portions of chemical substances perceptible by the sense of smell.	Odors,Aroma,Fragrance,Scents,Aromas,Fragrances,Odor,Odorant,Scent
D009830	Olfactory Bulb	Ovoid body resting on the CRIBRIFORM PLATE of the ethmoid bone where the OLFACTORY NERVE terminates. The olfactory bulb contains several types of nerve cells including the mitral cells, on whose DENDRITES the olfactory nerve synapses, forming the olfactory glomeruli. The accessory olfactory bulb, which receives the projection from the VOMERONASAL ORGAN via the vomeronasal nerve, is also included here.	Accessory Olfactory Bulb,Olfactory Tract,Bulbus Olfactorius,Lateral Olfactory Tract,Main Olfactory Bulb,Olfactory Glomerulus,Accessory Olfactory Bulbs,Bulb, Accessory Olfactory,Bulb, Main Olfactory,Bulb, Olfactory,Bulbs, Accessory Olfactory,Bulbs, Main Olfactory,Bulbs, Olfactory,Glomerulus, Olfactory,Lateral Olfactory Tracts,Main Olfactory Bulbs,Olfactorius, Bulbus,Olfactory Bulb, Accessory,Olfactory Bulb, Main,Olfactory Bulbs,Olfactory Bulbs, Accessory,Olfactory Bulbs, Main,Olfactory Tract, Lateral,Olfactory Tracts,Olfactory Tracts, Lateral,Tract, Lateral Olfactory,Tract, Olfactory,Tracts, Lateral Olfactory,Tracts, Olfactory
D012018	Reflex	An involuntary movement or exercise of function in a part, excited in response to a stimulus applied to the periphery and transmitted to the brain or spinal cord.
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001238	Asphyxia Neonatorum	Respiratory failure in the newborn. (Dorland, 27th ed)
D012890	Sleep	A readily reversible suspension of sensorimotor interaction with the environment, usually associated with recumbency and immobility.	Sleep Habits,Sleeping Habit,Sleeping Habits,Habit, Sleep,Habit, Sleeping,Habits, Sleep,Habits, Sleeping,Sleep Habit