| Olfactory mucosa | |
|---|---|
| Details | |
| System | Olfactory system |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | pars olfactoria tunicae mucosae nasi, regio olfactoria tunicae mucosae nasi |
| MeSH | D009831 |
| Anatomical terminology | |
Theolfactory mucosa is theneuroepithelialmucosa[1] lining the roof and upper parts of theseptum and lateral wall of thenasal cavity[1][2] which containsbipolar neurons of the primary receptor neurons of theolfactory pathway, as well as supporting cells. The neurons'dendrites project towards the nasal cavity while their axons ascend through thecribriform plate[1] as theolfactory nerves.[3]
The part of the nasal cavity that is lined with olfactory mucosa is known as the olfactory region (pars olfactoria tunicae mucosae nasi),[2] while the rest of the nasal cavity that is lined by ordinaryrespiratory mucosa is known as the respiratory region.[4]
Olfactory mucosa lines about 5cm2 of the posterosuperior parts of the lateral nasal wall. Parts of the nasal cavity lined by olfactory mucosa include: parts of the roof of the nasal cavity, the superior nasal concha and some upper parts of the middle nasal concha, parts of the nasal septum, and thesphenoethmoidal recess.[5]
The olfactory mucosa is thicker and lighter in colour (yellowish-brown) in comparison to the (pinkish) respiratory mucosa lining the rest of the nasal cavity.[1]
Glands of the olfactory mucosa secrete a mostlyserous fluid.[5]
The olfactory mucosa consists of theolfactory epithelium and the underlyinglamina propria, connective tissue containingfibroblasts, blood vessels,Bowman's glands and bundles of fineaxons from the olfactoryneurons.[6]
Invertebrates, the olfactory epithelium consists of a three basic cell types:bipolarolfactory receptor neurons;sustentacular cells, a type of supporting cell; andbasal cells, thestem cells that continuously give rise to new olfactory receptor neurons and sustentacular cells.[7]
Electron microscopy studies show that Bowman's glands contain cells with large secretory vesicles.[8] The exact composition of the secretions from Bowman's glands is unclear, but there is evidence that they produceodorant binding protein.[9][10]
Themucus protects the olfactory epithelium and allowsodors to dissolve so that they can be detected byolfactory receptor neurons.[8][verification needed]
Adult stem cell harvesting
Cells in the olfactory mucosa have been used in clinical trials foradult stem cell therapeutic treatments and successfully harvested for future applications.[11]
CB1 receptors and obesity
Type 1 cannabinoid receptors (CB1 receptors) are present in the sustentacular cells of the olfactory mucosa, in theperiglomerular cells of theolfactory bulb, and in theanterior olfactory nucleus andolfactory cortices. A study in 2008 in mice has shown that the level of CB1 expression in various brain regions, including the olfactory nucleus, is modulated by diet-inducedobesity.[12]
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