PSYC 215 Chapter Notes - Chapter 2: Olfactory Receptor Neuron, Primary Olfactory Cortex, Cribriform Plate
20 Nov 2018
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Document Summary
Olfactory receptors neurons are found in the roof of the nasal cavity. Olfactory epithelium: a patch of mucous membrane in the roof of the nasal cavity containing olfactory receptor neurons in humans, it contains 6 million receptor neurons. The actual receptors are located on the cilia. Several hundreds of different olfactory receptor neuron types in humans. Our sense of smell is blunted when we have a cold because of the build up of mucus in the nasal cavity that prevents odor molecules reaching the receptor cilia. Axon of each olfactory receptor cell passes through perforated bony plate (cribriform plate) Projects directly to a specific mitral cell in the olfactory bulb. Synapses between receptor cell axons and mitral cell dendrites bundle together to form 2000 olfactory glomeruli. Axons of mitral ells travel to rest of the brain: mitral cells project directly on the primary olfactory cortex and the amygdala.
