Olfactory cistern

The olfactory cistern is a paired cistern, located over the olfactory tract, between the straight gyrus and orbital gyrus.

The olfactory cistern starts in front of the deep portion of the Sylvian fissure (Sphenoidal compartment). At this point, a frontobasal sulcus can be found between the straight and orbital gyri. The arachnoid membrane bridging over them conforms to the floor of the cistern (over the cribriform plate, bone surface of the frontoethmoidal region). From here, an ascending reflection runs deep in the sulcus and blends with the rest of the arachnoid tissue.

Relationships: as this cistern has no posterior wall, a direct connection to the sylvian, carotid, chiasmatic, lamina terminalis, and pericallosal cisterns can be easily found.

Contents: the olfactory bulb represents the main content. It runs anteriorly with the orbitofrontal artery (A2 first branch).