The olfactory nerve detects smells in the nasal cavity. Olfactory receptor neurons in the nasal mucosa detect smells and send signals along axons through the cribriform plate to the olfactory bulb. The olfactory bulb performs initial processing of smell signals before sending them to areas of the brain involved in emotion and smell perception like the amygdala, hippocampus, and orbitofrontal cortex.

1. The 1ST Nerve
Olfactory Nerve
1. Mucous Membrane in Nasal
cavity:
Cilia project out from olfactory
receptors neuron (ORN).
Axon emerge from ORN pass
through cribriform plate of
ethmoid and terminate in the
olfactory bulb.
(Tigeminal nerve (cranial nerve
V) sends fibers to the olfactory
epithelium to detect caustic
chemicals, such as ammonia.)
Diagram Of ORN

2. 2. OLFACTORY BULB:
-First level of synaptic processing
Glomeruli layer of the olfactory
bulb .
-Next level of synaptic processing External plexiform layer, between
the glomerular layer and the mitral cell layer.

3. 3.Brain
Axons from mitral cells project out to form Lateral olfactory tract
(LOT) and terminate at
1. Amygdala, septal nuclei, pre-pyriform cortex, the entorhinal
cortex, hippocampus and the subiculum
(limbic system components and may be involved in the affective
components of olfaction)
2.Thalamus and thence to the orbito frontal cortex for recognition.
(conscious mechanism for odor perception)
15th Feb, 2014
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