Final answer:
Anosmia refers to the complete loss of the sense of smell and can occur after blunt force trauma to the face, aging, or certain medical conditions. If the olfactory nerve is not completely severed, the condition may be temporary as new neurons can eventually reconnect.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term that could best mean loss of the sense of smell on one side is anosmia. Anosmia is a condition where there is a complete loss of the sense of smell, which can be due to various causes. This includes blunt force trauma to the face, such as what may occur in a car accident, or repeated injury, such as with professional fighters. The olfactory neurons have a limited lifespan and are regularly replaced; however, if the olfactory nerve axons are sheared apart and no guide exists for new neurons to follow, anosmia can result. Anosmia can be temporary if the nerve is not completely severed, allowing new neurons to potentially reconnect over time. It should be noted that while anosmia often refers to total loss of smell, it might also encompass partial loss such as loss of smell on one side, depending on the context of the description.