olfactory nerve
Acronym:
1n
The term olfactory nerve refers to the very short first cranial nerve. Defined topologically by dissection as well as histologically, it consists of unmyelinated axons that project from sensory receptor cells in the olfactory epithelium high in the nasal cavity. Multiple tiny bundles of axons penetrate the cribiform plate, the thin boney roof of the nasal cavity, to enter the main olfactory bulb on the floor of the cranial cavity above ( Price-1990 ).
The olfactory nerve is found in the human ( Buck-2013 ), macaque ( Price-1990 ), rat ( Swanson-2004 ) and mouse ( Hof-2000 ). While the name focuses on its function as a nerve, it is also the primary receptor element of the olfactory system. It is a bipolar cell, the 'dendrite' of which bears chemical receptors for oderant molecues. The human has about 350 different olfactory receptors and can distinguish some 10,000 odors; The mouse has about 1000 types of receptor and can presumably distinguish proportionally more ( Buck-2013 ). For more on function, see main olfactory bulb. Updated 13 Jun 2024.
Also known as: first cranial nerve, Nerve I, olfactory fila, Fila olfactoriaNeuroNames ID : 32
|
|