Nervus olfactorius

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FACING A14.2.01.004 Function transmission of olfactory information to the brain Distance from telencephala Branches doesn't have Image of polio hyposmie, anosmie, hyperosmie, parosmie
Olfactory nerve
FACING A14.2.01.004
Function transmission of olfactory information to the brain
Distance from telencephala
Branches doesn't have
Image of polio hyposmie, anosmie, hyperosmie, parosmie

Nervus olfactorius (I. cranial nerve , olfactory nerve) is referred to as a false cranial nerve, it is a paired set of fibers formed bilaterally by the axons of olfactory cells originating from the pars olfactoria of the nasal mucosa. It arises as an outgrowth of the telencephalon . It has no cores and does not branch.

Course of the olfactory nerve[edit | edit source]

It is formed by unmyelinated central projections ( fila olfactoria ) of olfactory cells, which are located in the regio olfactoria of the mucous membrane of the nasal cavity. The dendrites extending from the olfactory cells are spherically expanded at the ends, and several cilia extend from this expansion into the mucus layer on the surface of the mucous membrane. Odor substances soluble in water or in mucus bind to receptors on the surface of the cilia. This causes irritation and nerve impulses are conducted to the olfactory bulb ( bulbus olfactorius ).

The projections of the olfactory cells form a plexus from which the olfactory nerves emerge . These penetrate the openings in the lamina cribrosa ossis ethmoidalis and sink into the right and left bulbus olfactorius . Inside the bulb, it branches and ends on the dendrites of the mitral cells. Mitral cells serve to conduct olfactory signals through the olfactory pathway to the primary olfactory cortex area ( paleocortex , pyriform cortex , entorhinal cortex )

Searchtool right.svg For more information see Olfactory track.

Disorders of the olfactory nerve[edit | edit source]

  • Hyposmia – partial loss of smell;
  • anosmia – complete loss of smell;
  • hyperosmia – excessive sensitivity;
  • parosmia – qualitative disorder.
1. Bulbus olfactorius 2. Mitral cells 3. Lamina cribrosa 4. Mucous membrane of the nasal cavity 5. Synapse 6. Fila olfactoria
1. Bulbus olfactorius 2. Mitral cells 3. Lamina cribrosa 4. Mucous membrane of the nasal cavity 5. Synapse 6. Fila olfactoria
Searchtool right.svg For more information see Olfactory disorders.

Links[edit | edit source]

Related Articles[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  • PETROVICKÝ, Pavel, et al. Anatomie s topografií a klinickými aplikacemi III. -- Neuroanatomie, smyslová ústrojí a kůže. 1. edition. 2002. ISBN 80-8063-048-8.
  • GRIM, Miloš – DRUGA, Rastislav. Základy anatomie, Periferní nervový systém, smyslové orgány a kůže. 1. edition. Praha : Galén, 2014. 173 pp. ISBN 978-80-7492-156-8.


Cranial nerves
Olfactory nerve • Optic nerveOculomotor nerveTrochlear nerveTrigeminal nerveAbductor nerve • Facial nerve • Vestibulocochlear nerve • Glossopharyngeal nerveVagus nerveAccessory nerveHypoglossal nerve
Portal: Anatomy