Olfactory part of nasal mucosa
Pars olfactoria tunicae mucosae nasi
- Latin synonym: Tunica mucosa olfactoria
- Synonym: Olfactory area; Olfactory mucous membrane
- Related terms: Olfactory mucosal membrane; Olfactory part of nasal mucosa; Olfactory area; Olfactory organ: Olfactory part of nasal mucosa; Olfactory area
Definition
The olfactory part of nasal mucosa covers the apical region of each nasal cavity in an inverted U-shaped fashion:
Superiorly, it underlines the roof of nasal cavity including the cribriform plate of ethmoid bone.
Laterally, it covers the superior concha and part of middle concha, where it merges with the respiratory epithelium.
Medially, it covers the sphenoethmoidal recess and the upper part of perpendicular plate of ethmoid bone (the nasal septum).
The epithelium of olfactory part of nasal mucosa is pseudostratified in nature. It contains a variety of cells including:
Biploar olfactory receptor neurons.
Sustentacular cells with microvilli. These are columnar cells and support the interspersed olfactory receptor neurons
Basal cells.
The epithelium rests on the lamina propria that contains:
Bowman’s olfactory glands that produce serous secretions, which cover over the olfactory mucosa.
Axons of olfactory neurons that traverse through the cribriform plate of ethmoid bone (in the roof of nasal cavity) to meet the olfactory bulb.
References
Text written by Muhammad A. Javaid, MD, PhD © 2023 IMAIOS.
Standring, S. and Gray, H. (2016). ‘Chapter 33: Nose, nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses’ in Gray’s anatomy The anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice. (41st ed.) New York: Elsevier, pp. 561-562.
