Olfactory Epithelium Flashcards

Examine the olfactory epithelium's location, sensory neurons, supporting cells, basal cells, glands, innervation, and regenerative capacity.

Card 1 of 26Question

What is the olfactory epithelium?

A specialized pseudostratified neuroepithelium containing sensory receptor neurons responsible for detecting odors.

In This Section

1. What is the olfactory epithelium?

A specialized pseudostratified neuroepithelium containing sensory receptor neurons responsible for detecting odors.

2. Where is the olfactory epithelium located?

In the superior nasal cavity, covering the roof, superior nasal concha, and adjacent upper nasal septum.

3. What are the three principal cell types of the olfactory epithelium?

Olfactory receptor neurons, sustentacular cells, and basal cells.

4. What type of neurons are olfactory receptor cells?

Bipolar sensory neurons.

5. What is the olfactory knob?

A small swelling at the apical end of an olfactory receptor neuron's dendrite.

6. What structures extend from the olfactory knob?

Multiple long, nonmotile olfactory cilia containing odorant receptors.

7. What is the function of olfactory cilia?

They provide the sensory membrane where odorant molecules activate olfactory receptors.

8. What type of receptors detect odorant molecules?

G protein-coupled olfactory receptors located in the membranes of olfactory cilia.

9. What are sustentacular cells?

Tall supporting cells that provide structural, metabolic, and protective support to olfactory receptor neurons.

10. Where are the nuclei of sustentacular cells typically located?

Near the apical region of the olfactory epithelium.

11. What is the primary function of basal cells in the olfactory epithelium?

They serve as progenitor cells that replace olfactory receptor neurons and other epithelial cells.

12. What are the two major populations of olfactory basal cells?

Globose basal cells and horizontal basal cells.

13. Which basal cell population actively contributes to routine olfactory neuron replacement?

Globose basal cells.

14. What is the regenerative role of horizontal basal cells?

They act mainly as reserve stem cells activated during significant epithelial injury.

15. What are Bowman's glands?

Serous olfactory glands located in the lamina propria beneath the olfactory epithelium.

16. What is the function of Bowman's gland secretions?

They contribute to the mucus layer that dissolves odorants and helps clear the olfactory surface.

17. What structures are found in the lamina propria beneath the olfactory epithelium?

Bowman's glands, blood vessels, connective tissue, and bundles of olfactory nerve axons.

18. Which cranial nerve transmits sensory information from the olfactory epithelium?

The olfactory nerve (cranial nerve I).

19. What are the fila olfactoria?

Small bundles of unmyelinated olfactory receptor neuron axons forming the olfactory nerve filaments.

20. Through which bony structure do olfactory nerve filaments pass?

The foramina of the cribriform plate of the ethmoid bone.

21. Where do olfactory receptor neuron axons first synapse within the central nervous system?

In the glomeruli of the olfactory bulb.

22. Which principal neurons receive olfactory receptor input in the olfactory bulb?

Mitral and tufted cells.

23. How does olfactory epithelium differ from typical respiratory epithelium?

It contains sensory neurons and lacks the prominent goblet cells and motile cilia of respiratory epithelium.

24. Which cells support unmyelinated olfactory axons within the nasal mucosa?

Olfactory ensheathing cells.

25. Which arteries contribute to the blood supply of the olfactory mucosal region?

Branches of the anterior and posterior ethmoidal arteries and the sphenopalatine artery.

26. Why can a fracture of the cribriform plate cause anosmia?

It can sever olfactory nerve filaments passing between the nasal mucosa and olfactory bulb.