Pronunciation: [ɒlfˈaktəɹˌi] (IPA) 
The word "olfactory" refers to the sense of smell. It is spelled /ɒlˈfæktəri/ in IPA phonetic transcription, which breaks down as follows: the "o" is pronounced like the "o" in "lot"; the "l" is pronounced normally; the "f" is pronounced like the "f" in "enough"; the "a" is pronounced like the "a" in "cat"; the "ct" is pronounced like the "k" in "kite"; and the "ory" is pronounced like the "ree" in "tree".
Olfactory refers to the sense of smell or the ability to perceive and distinguish different odors or aromas. It is one of the five major sensory systems in humans and animals. The word "olfactory" originates from the Latin word "olfactus," meaning "to smell."
In anatomy, olfactory pertains to the olfactory system, which includes the olfactory organs, olfactory nerves, and olfactory bulb in the brain. The olfactory organs, located in the upper part of the nasal cavity, contain specialized receptor cells called olfactory receptors. These receptors are stimulated by airborne chemical compounds called odorants, which are released by various substances and provide the essence of different scents. When odorants come in contact with the olfactory receptors, they trigger a signal that is transmitted to the olfactory bulb and then to the brain for interpretation.
The olfactory sense plays a crucial role in various aspects of life, including detecting danger (such as the smell of smoke or gas leaks), finding food, identifying potential mates, and evoking emotions associated with particular smells. It is intricately connected to memory and emotions, as specific smells can trigger vivid recollections and elicit strong emotional responses.
In summary, "olfactory" relates to the sense of smell and all the physiological and intellectual processes associated with it, including the anatomy of the olfactory system, the detection and interpretation of odors, and the emotional and memory associations linked to different smells.
Relating to the sense of smell.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Having the sense of smelling; used in smelling, as olfactory nerves.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "olfactory" comes from the Latin "olfactus", which is the past participle of "olfacere" meaning "to smell". It is derived from the combination of the Latin words "olere" meaning "to emit a smell" and the verb "facere" meaning "to make or to do". In essence, the word "olfactory" refers to anything related to the sense of smell.
