Olfactory system

The olfactory tract called the neuroanatomical way of odor perception of the smell sensors in the nose, specifically the olfactory mucosa to the olfactory cortex of the telencephalon. The olfactory tract consists of three series-connected nerve cells ( neurons).

1 neuron

In the olfactory mucosa ( olfactory region ) of the upper turbinate is bipolar olfactory cells are located (primary sensory cells ). Your peripheral extension ( dendrite ) pulls the mucosal surface, the central axon enters in the form of the olfactory filaments ( olfactory fibers ) through the perforated plate (lamina cribrosa ) of the ethmoid bone to the olfactory bulb ( olfactory bulb ). The totality of the olfactory filaments, although neuroanatomically not exact, called the first cranial nerve ( olfactory nerve ).

2 neuron

In the olfactory bulb, the first switchover to the mitral cells, whose axons pull through the olfactory tract to the olfactory stria medialis et lateralis.

3 neuron

From the medial olfactory stria, the third neuron extends to the olfactory hill ( olfactory tubercle ) and from there to the septal nuclei and the parahippocampal gyrus and thus reaches the limbic system. Here the unconscious olfactory perception.

From the lateral olfactory stria, the third neuron moves to Area periamygdalaris / praepiriformis to the frontal lobe. In this way the conscious olfactory perception.

• Telencephalon
• Smell