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Cranial Nerves - Anatomy & Physiology (view source)
Revision as of 09:19, 11 August 2011
, 09:19, 11 August 2011→Olfaction (I)
===Olfaction (I)===
===Olfaction (I)===
Olfaction is part of the special senses cranial nerve group and represents the chemical senses of olfaction (smell) and gustation (taste). When chemical substances interact with our bodies they stimulate special sensory cells which in turn generate an action potential. The resultant impulse is sent to the brain via sensory afferent fibres and it is these fibres that represent the olfactory cranial nerve. Note: an action potential is only generated where a special sensory cell for that particular chemical substance exists. The special sensory cells are found within the olfactory mucous membrane in the nasal fundus and the olfactory neurosensory cells are found within the olfactory epithelium. The olfactory epithelium contains cilia on the surface of the cells to increase the surface area for chemical interactions.
Olfaction is part of the special senses cranial nerve group and represents the chemical senses of olfaction (smell) and gustation (taste). When chemical substances interact with our bodies they stimulate special sensory cells which in turn generate an action potential. The resultant impulse is sent to the brain via sensory afferent fibres and it is these fibres that represent the olfactory cranial nerve. Note: an action potential is only generated where a special sensory cell for that particular chemical substance exists. The special sensory cells are found within the olfactory mucous membrane in the nasal fundus and the olfactory neurosensory cells are found within the olfactory epithelium. The olfactory epithelium contains cilia on the surface of the cells to increase the surface area for chemical interactions.
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The olfactory nerve runs to the olfactory bulb which is found within the [[Forebrain_-_Anatomy_%26_Physiology#Olfactory_Bulb|telencephalon]]. The olfactory nerve is a sensory nerve and is composed of many '''Special Visceral Afferent''' fibres. The fibres are formed into bundles that are referred to as 'Olfactory filaments'. The olfactory nerve passes through the '''Cribiform plate''' and is surrounded by meningeal sheets including the sub-arachnoid space. Therefore the route of the olfactory nerve represents a potential site for an infection to track towards the brain. Injury of this nerve can lead to 'anosmia', or loss of smell.
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