Olfactory nerve

OLFACTORY NERVE ANATOMY

The olfactory nerve in reality encompasses numerous nerves whose main responsibility it is to relay the smell sensory information from the mucous membranes back to the brain. It takes more than one nerve to accomplish this task.

OLFACTORY NERVE STRUCTURE

The olfactory nerve is comprised of bipolar neurons that are do the job of chemorecptors. They simply respond accordingly to the volatile chemical particles that are able to enter the nasal cavity during the normal action of breathing.

Located within the mucosa, there are numerous dendrites and cell bodies which belong to the olfactory neurons. These neurons mainly encompass the entire superior nasal conchae and the adjoining nasal septum. The cribriform plate of the ethmoid bone serves as a point of passage for the axons of these neurons.

OLFACTORY NERVE DIAGRAM

From there, they head onward to the olfactory bulb where the synapse occurs, and the sensory impulses begin their stage of travel. The impulses then pass through the olfactory tract until they reach the cerebral cortex where the olfactory region exists.