What structures make up the olfactory epithelium?

The olfactory epithelium is composed of three distinct cell types: basal cells, olfactory sensory neurons, and sustentacular (or supporting) cells. The olfactory sensory neurons are bipolar neurons sensing environmental chemicals.

What kind of epithelium is olfactory epithelium?

pseudostratified columnar
The epithelium is pseudostratified columnar and it is hard to differentiate between the olfactory receptor cells, sustentacular cells and basal epithelial cells.

What is the main function of the olfactory epithelium?

The olfactory epithelium is part of the olfactory sensory system, whose role is to pass along smell sensations to the brain. It does this by trapping odors that pass across the cilia before sending the information about those odors to the olfactory bulb.

What is the major nerve of the olfactory epithelium?

Olfactory nerve (CN I) The olfactory nerve is a solely sensory nerve and conveys the sense of smell. Its receptors are located in the olfactory mucosa under the roof of the nasal cavity.

What are the 3 major parts of olfaction?

The system consists of the nose and the nasal cavities, which in their upper parts support the olfactory mucous membrane for the perception of smell and in their lower parts act as respiratory passages.

What 3 types of cells make up the olfactory epithelium?

The olfactory epithelium consists of 3 cell types: basal, supporting, and olfactory receptor cells. Basal cells are stem cells that give rise to the olfactory receptor cells (seen in the image below). The continuous turnover and new supply of these neurons are unique to the olfactory system.

What cells form most of the olfactory epithelium?

Terms in this set (24)

  • the organ of smell.
  • cell type that forms most of the olfactory epithelium.
  • cell type that differentiates to replace olfactory sensory neurons.
  • bipolar neurons with nonmotile cilia.
  • axons that pass through the cribiform foramina.
  • gustatory epithelial cells.
  • basal epithelial cells.