Olfactory mucosa
Encyclopedia
The olfactory mucosa is located in the upper region of the nasal cavity
and 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.
The mucus protects the olfactory epithelium and allows odor
s to dissolve so that they can be detected by olfactory receptor neuron
s. Electron microscopy studies show that Bowman's glands contain cells with large secretory vesicles. The exact composition of the secretions from Bowman's glands is unclear, but there is evidence that Bowman's glands do not produce odorant binding protein
.
In vertebrates, the olfactory epithelium consists of a three basic cell types: bipolar olfactory receptor neuron
s; sustentacular cell
s, a type of supporting cell; and basal cells, the stem cell
s that continuously give rise to new olfactory receptor neurons and sustentacular cells.
Cells in the olfactory mucosa have been shown to have a degree of plasticity, and hold potential for therapeutic applications.
Such cells have been used in clinical trials for adult stem cell
therapeutic treatments, and successfully harvested for future applications.
Nasal cavity
The nasal cavity is a large air filled space above and behind the nose in the middle of the face.- Function :The nasal cavity conditions the air to be received by the other areas of the respiratory tract...
and is made up of the olfactory epithelium
Olfactory epithelium
The olfactory epithelium is a specialized epithelial tissue inside the nasal cavity that is involved in smell. In humans, it measures about 1 square centimetre and lies on the roof of the nasal cavity about 7 cm above and behind the nostrils...
and the underlying lamina propria
Lamina propria
The lamina propria is a constituent of the moist linings known as mucous membranes or mucosa, which line various tubes in the body ....
, connective tissue containing fibroblasts, blood vessels, Bowman's glands and bundles of fine axons from the olfactory neurons.
The mucus protects the olfactory epithelium and allows odor
Odor
An odor or odour is caused by one or more volatilized chemical compounds, generally at a very low concentration, that humans or other animals perceive by the sense of olfaction. Odors are also commonly called scents, which can refer to both pleasant and unpleasant odors...
s to dissolve so that they can be detected by olfactory receptor neuron
Olfactory receptor neuron
An olfactory receptor neuron , also called an olfactory sensory neuron , is a transduction cell within the olfactory system. J. Rospars, Dendritic integration in olfactory sensory neurons: a steady-state analysis of how the neuron structure and neuron environment influence the coding of odor...
s. Electron microscopy studies show that Bowman's glands contain cells with large secretory vesicles. The exact composition of the secretions from Bowman's glands is unclear, but there is evidence that Bowman's glands do not produce odorant binding protein
Odorant binding protein
Odorant binding proteins are abundant small soluble proteins secreted in the nasal mucus of many animal species and in the sensillar lymph of chemosensory sensilla of insects....
.
In vertebrates, the olfactory epithelium consists of a three basic cell types: bipolar olfactory receptor neuron
Olfactory receptor neuron
An olfactory receptor neuron , also called an olfactory sensory neuron , is a transduction cell within the olfactory system. J. Rospars, Dendritic integration in olfactory sensory neurons: a steady-state analysis of how the neuron structure and neuron environment influence the coding of odor...
s; sustentacular cell
Sustentacular cell
A sustentacular cell is a type of cell primarily associated with structural support.One type of sustentacular cell is the Sertoli cell, in the testicle...
s, a type of supporting cell; and basal cells, the stem cell
Stem cell
This article is about the cell type. For the medical therapy, see Stem Cell TreatmentsStem cells are biological cells found in all multicellular organisms, that can divide and differentiate into diverse specialized cell types and can self-renew to produce more stem cells...
s that continuously give rise to new olfactory receptor neurons and sustentacular cells.
Cells in the olfactory mucosa have been shown to have a degree of plasticity, and hold potential for therapeutic applications.
Such cells have been used in clinical trials for adult stem cell
Adult stem cell
Adult stem cells are undifferentiated cells, found throughout the body after embryonic development, that multiply by cell division to replenish dying cells and regenerate damaged tissues...
therapeutic treatments, and successfully harvested for future applications.