What is the function of the olfactory pathway?
The axons projecting from the olfactory receptor cells via the olfactory nerve terminate within the olfactory bulb. The olfactory bulb is the main relay station within the olfactory pathway. Information from the receptor cells is passed to cells whose projections make up the subsequent olfactory tract.
What is the function of olfactory bulb?
Olfactory Bulb. The axons projecting from the olfactory receptor cells via the olfactory nerve terminate within the olfactory bulb. The olfactory bulb is the main relay station within the olfactory pathway. Information from the receptor cells is passed to cells whose projections make up the subsequent olfactory tract.
What cells make up the olfactory system?
Olfactory cells. Olfactory receptor cells (sense odor and contain cilia), supporting cells, basal (stem) cells (replacing old and damaged olfactory receptor cells). Olfactory nerve. CN I formed out of a collection of olfactory receptor cell axons, which pass through the cribriform plate and into the roof of the nasal cavity.
What are the projections of the olfactory receptor cells?
The olfactory receptor cells are bipolar, meaning that they have two projections from their cell body. One projection, the dendrite, extends to the surface of the olfactory epithelium. This dendrite expands at the epithelial surface to become knob-like.
Which olfactory tract divides into medial and lateral olfactory striae?
Posterior and anterior to the optic chiasm, the olfactory tract on both sides divides into medial and lateral olfactory striae. The medial stria projects to the anterior commissure, and subsequently, to contralateral olfactory structures. The lateral stria continues on to structures associated with the olfactory cortex.
Where is the olfactory nerve located?
To understand the olfactory nerve and its clinical implications, this article will trace the olfactory nerve from its receptor cells, located in the nasal epithelium, to the olfactory cortex and beyond. It will highlight some of the unique characteristics of certain cells within the olfactory pathway, and the connection of the pathway to memory (and behavior) related brain regions.
What is the olfactory bulb?
Olfactory bulb. It is the relay station of the olfactory pathway and contains olfactory glomeruli. Olfactory tract. It is made up of the axons of mitral relay neurons. Olfactory striae. They are the medial and lateral divisions of the olfactory tract. Olfactory cortex.
What are the two main sensory groups?
Sensations perceived by the body are organized into two major groups: general sensations such as touch, pressure, pain, and temperature, and special sensations such as vision, hearing, taste, smell, and the sense of body position and movement. The olfactory nerve is the first of the 12 cranial nerves and one of the few cranial nerves that carries special sensory information only. In this case, the olfactory nerve is responsible for our sense of smell.
How long do olfactory receptor cells live?
Of note, other cell types present in the epithelium are the basal stem cells. Typically, an olfactory receptor cell lifespan is 30-60 days.
Where is the dendrite located?
One projection, the dendrite, extends to the surface of the olfactory epithelium. This dendrite expands at the epithelial surface to become knob-like. Located on the dendrite’s surface are 10-20 non motile cilia that extend into the fluid layer covering the epithelium in the nose.
Which cranial nerve is responsible for the sense of smell?
The olfactory nerve is the first of the 12 cranial nerves and one of the few cranial nerves that carries special sensory information only. In this case, the olfactory nerve is responsible for our sense of smell. The odor information originates in the epithelium of the nasal cavity and is transported to the brain via components ...
