olfactory mucosa

(noun)

Located in the upper region of the nasal cavity, this is made up of the olfactory epithelium and the underlying lamina propria, connective tissue containing fibroblasts, blood vessels, Bowman's glands, and bundles of fine axons from the olfactory neurons.

Related Terms

Examples of olfactory mucosa in the following topics:

  • Olfactory (I) Nerve

    • The olfactory nerve, or cranial nerve I, is the first of the 12 cranial nerves.
    • The specialized olfactory receptor neurons of the olfactory nerve are located in the olfactory mucosa of the upper parts of the nasal cavity.
    • The olfactory nerves consist of a collection of many sensory nerve fibers that extend from the olfactory epithelium to the olfactory bulb, passing through the many openings of the cribriform plate of the ethmoid bone.
    • Olfactory receptor neurons continue to emerge throughout life and extend new axons to the olfactory bulb.
    • These interactions are transduced into electrical activity in the olfactory bulb, which then transmits the electrical activity to other parts of the olfactory system and the rest of the central nervous system via the olfactory tract.

  • Taste and Smell at Birth and in Old Age

    • Studies demonstrate that the changes to the olfactory bulb and main olfactory system following birth are extremely important and influential for maternal behavior.
    • A diagram of the olfactory system is shown in .
    • Pregnancy and childbirth result in a high state of plasticity of the olfactory system that may facilitate olfactory learning within the mother.
    • Anosmia is due to an inflammation of the nasal mucosa, blockage of nasal passages, or a destruction of one temporal lobe.
    • Human olfactory system. 1: Olfactory bulb 2: Mitral cells 3: Bone 4: Nasal epithelium 5: Glomerulus (olfaction) 6: Olfactory receptor cells

  • Mucosa

    • The mucosa is the innermost layer, and functions in absorption and secretion.
    • The mucosa is made up of three layers: epithelium, lamina propria, and muscularis mucosae.
    • The mucosae (singular: mucosa) are highly specialized in each organ of the gastrointestinal tract, in order to deal with the different digestive tract conditions.
    • The most variation is seen in the epithelium tissue layer of the mucosa.
    • Describe the structure and function of the mucosa of the GI tract

  • Overview of Sensation

    • The olfactory system is the sensory system used for the sense of smell (olfaction).
    • In humans, olfaction occurs when odorant molecules bind to specific sites on the olfactory receptors in the nasal cavity.
    • They come together at a structure (the glomerulus) that transmits signals to the olfactory bulb in the brain.
    • Touch or somatosensation (tactioception, tactition, or mechanoreception), is a perception resulting from the activation of neural receptors in the skin, including hair follicles, tongue, throat, and mucosa.

  • Submucosa

    • From the inside out they are called: mucosa, submucosa, muscularis, and serosa .
    • The submucosa is relatively thick, highly vascular, and serves the mucosa.
    • The absorbed elements that pass through the mucosa are picked up from the blood vessels of the submucosa.
    • The submucosa lies under the mucosa and consists of fibrous connective tissue, separating the mucosa from the next layer, the muscularis externa.
    • Blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, and nerves (all supplying the mucosa) will run through here.

  • Histology of the Small Intestine

    • The small intestine wall has four layers: the outermost serosa, muscularis, submucosa, and innermost mucosa.
    • The small intestine has four tissue layers: the serosa, muscularis, submucosa, and mucosa.
    • The submucosa is the layer of dense irregular connective tissue or loose connective tissue that supports the mucosa, as well as joins the mucosa to the bulk of underlying smooth muscle.
    • The intestinal villi are part of the mucosa.
    • Intestinal villi (singular: villus) are tiny, finger-like projections that protrude from the epithelial lining of the mucosa .

  • Skin and Mucosae (Surface Barriers)

    • In mammals, the skin and mucosae constitute complex protective barriers which guard against infection and injury.
    • In humans, the outer covering of the body consists of the skin and mucosa, which together make up the barrier immune system.
    • The mucous membranes (or mucosae; singular mucosa) are linings of mostly endodermal origin, covered in various types of epithelium, which are involved in absorption and secretion.
    • The mucosae are highly-specialized in each organ to deal with the different conditions.
    • Describe how the skin and mucosae serve as a protective barrier which guards against infection and injury

  • Epithelial Membranes

    • In some mucosa, the lamina propria rests on a deeper, third layer of smooth muscle.
    • The submucosa is the tissue that connects the mucosa to the muscle outside the tube.

  • Muscularis

    • From the inside out they are called: mucosa, submucosa, muscularis, and serosa (, ).
    • In the stomach, there is also a thin bit of smooth muscle called the muscularis mucosa.

  • Histology of the Liver and Gallbladder

    • Hepatocytes are the main tissue cells of the liver; the gallbladder contains the mucosa, muscularis, perimuscular, and serosa layers.
    • There are several different layers of the gallbladder: the mucosa (epithelium and lamina propria), the muscularis, the perimuscular, and the serosa .
    • The lamina propria is a thin layer of loose connective tissue, which together with the epithelium forms the mucosa.