Olfactory Nerve Solution olfactory nerve is a type of a cranial nerve. It is first of the twelve cranial nerves and is shortest of all. It\'s sensory data is responsible for smell and partially responsible for taste. It\'s olfactory receptors are located in the mucosal membrane of the nasal cavity. It bypass the brain stem and connects directly to the brain. Mechanism of smell: chemicals enters nose -----> enters into a nasal cavity ---->region of olfactry epthelium covered with cilia on side and axon of the olfactory nerve on the other ----> these axons enter into skul through cribriform plate-----> then they get together at olfactory bulb------> passes signal to olfactory tract -----> brain-----> brain interpretate specific pattern of impulses as specific smell..