Olfactory Pathway And Nerve: Anatomy | Kenhub

Olfactory nerve pathway

It is important to note that the olfactory nerve is only one component of the overall pathway and is, in fact, made up of multiple nerve fibers/rootlets coming from the receptors cells. The pathway can be summarized as follows:

• olfactory receptor cells
• olfactory nerves
• olfactory bulb
• olfactory tract
• olfactory striae
• olfactory cortex
• output targets of the olfactory cortex

The olfactory nerve is only one of the 12 cranial nerves. Learn about all 12 of them with our time-saving cranial nerves quizzes and labeling exercises. 

Olfactory receptor cells

These cells are located in the olfactory epithelium, a mucosal membrane that lines the roof and sides of the nasal cavity. In humans, the olfactory epithelium is small; approximately 5 cm² in area. There are three cell types contained within the epithelium: the olfactory receptor cells, supporting cells, and basal (stem) 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. Located on the dendrite’s surface are 10-20 non motile cilia that extend into the fluid layer covering the epithelium in the nose. The cilia contain receptors for odor molecules that pass into the nasal cavity and are captured in the fluid covering the olfactory epithelium. The other projection from the receptor cell body is an unmyelinated axon; these will be described in the next step of the pathway.

Of note, other cell types present in the epithelium are the basal stem cells. Typically, an olfactory receptor cell lifespan is 30-60 days. The basal stem cells differentiate into, and replace, damaged receptor cells. This means that unlike receptive cells associated with other special senses (vision and hearing for example), cells associated with receiving olfactory information can regenerate throughout life. However, across a lifespan, not all receptors are replaced, meaning that the sense of smell can diminish with age.

Olfactory nerve

Each receptor cell has an axon extending from its basal surface. The basal surface of olfactory receptor cells is located directly inferior to the cribriform plate of the ethmoid bone which makes up the bony roof of the nasal cavity. As the axons project from the cell body, they combine with other receptor cell axons, making up bundles of nerve fibers/rootlets. All of these axonal bundles can collectively be thought of as the olfactory nerve (CNI). These bundles of nerve fibers, surrounded by dura and arachnoid mater, of the meninges then move superiorly by passing through the foramina (holes) in the cribriform plate of the ethmoid bone.

Master the olfactory nerve anatomy as well as the other cranial nerves with our study units:

Learn faster Olfactory nerve (CN I) Explore study unit Learn faster Smell Explore study unit

Olfactory bulb

Olfactory bulb Bulbus olfactorius 1/4 Synonyms: none

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.

Each olfactory bulb (right and left) lies lateral to the crista galli and superior to the cribriform plate of the ethmoid bone, inside the cranial cavity. Therefore, it lies on the underside of medial aspect of the frontal lobe. Within the olfactory bulb are bundles of nerve fibers known as glomeruli; where incoming receptor cell axons make connections with the dendrites of mitral relay neurons.

Olfactory tract

This bundle of nerve fibers is made up of the axons of mitral relay neurons bound for the regions of the brain associated with the olfactory cortex. The tract passes posteriorly on the underside of the medial frontal lobe in a sulcus known as the olfactory groove.

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.

Optic chiasm Chiasma opticum 1/6 Synonyms: Optic chiasma

Olfactory cortex

Amygdaloid body Corpus amygdaloideum 1/3 Synonyms: Amygdaloid complex, Amygdala

This cortex is not a single structure, rather, it is defined as the combined areas of the cerebral cortex (generally within the temporal lobe) that receive input directly from the olfactory bulb. These regions include the:

• Piriform cortex: which is located below the lateral olfactory stria.
• Amygdala: which is located anterior to the temporal/inferior horn of the lateral ventricle, and is associated with the emotion of fear.
• Entorhinal cortex: which is the anterior part of the parahippocampal gyrus, and is involved in the formation of memory.

Olfactory cortex output structures

From the olfactory cortex, information about smell is sent to the orbitofrontal cortexvia the dorsal medial nucleus of the thalamus. The orbitofrontal cortex is a portion of the prefrontal cortex that is located on the underside of the frontal lobe and situated over the eye orbit. Lesions of this cortical region can result in an inability to distinguish different odors. Odor information is also sent to portions of the hypothalamus and brainstem that trigger autonomic responses involved in appetite, salivation, and gastric contraction.

Solidify your knowledge about the olfactory nerve with our quiz: