In animal anatomy, the rhinencephalon is a part of the brain

Brain

The brain is the center of the nervous system in all vertebrate and most invertebrate animals—only a few primitive invertebrates such as sponges, jellyfish, sea squirts and starfishes do not have one. It is located in the head, usually close to primary sensory apparatus such as vision, hearing,...

 involved with olfaction

Olfaction

Olfaction is the sense of smell. This sense is mediated by specialized sensory cells of the nasal cavity of vertebrates, and, by analogy, sensory cells of the antennae of invertebrates...

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Components

The term rhinencephalon has been used to describe different structures at different points in time.

One definition includes the olfactory bulb

Olfactory bulb

The olfactory bulb is a structure of the vertebrate forebrain involved in olfaction, the perception of odors.-Anatomy:In most vertebrates, the olfactory bulb is the most rostral part of the brain. In humans, however, the olfactory bulb is on the inferior side of the brain...

, olfactory tract

Olfactory tract

The olfactory tract is a bundle of axons connecting the mitral and tufted cells of the olfactory bulb to several target regions in the brain, including piriform cortex, amygdala, and entorhinal cortex...

, anterior olfactory nucleus

Anterior olfactory nucleus

The anterior olfactory nucleus is a portion of the forebrain of vertebrates.It is involved in olfaction.-Location:...

, anterior perforated substance

Anterior perforated substance

The anterior perforated substance is an irregularly quadrilateral area in front of the optic tract and behind the olfactory trigone, from which it is separated by the fissure prima; medially and in front, it is continuous with the subcallosal gyrus; it is bounded laterally by the lateral stria of...

, medial olfactory stria

Medial olfactory stria

The medial olfactory stria turns medialward behind the parolfactory area and ends in the subcallosal gyrus; in some cases a small intermediate stria is seen running backward to the anterior perforated substance.-External links:...

, lateral olfactory stria

Lateral olfactory stria

The lateral olfactory stria is directed across the lateral part of the anterior perforated substance and then bends abruptly medialward toward the uncus of the hippocampal gyrus.-External links:* http://instruct.uwo.ca/anatomy/530/olfactor.gif...

, parts of the amygdala

Amygdala

The ' are almond-shaped groups of nuclei located deep within the medial temporal lobes of the brain in complex vertebrates, including humans. Shown in research to perform a primary role in the processing and memory of emotional reactions, the amygdalae are considered part of the limbic system.-...

 and prepyriform area

Prepyriform area

Prepyriform area is a portion of the rhinencephalon consisting of paleocortex.Some sources state that it is part of the primary olfactory cortex....

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Some references classify other areas of the brain related to perception of smell as rhinencephalon, but areas of the human brain that receive fibers strictly from the olfactory bulb

Olfactory bulb

The olfactory bulb is a structure of the vertebrate forebrain involved in olfaction, the perception of odors.-Anatomy:In most vertebrates, the olfactory bulb is the most rostral part of the brain. In humans, however, the olfactory bulb is on the inferior side of the brain...

 are limited to those of the paleopallium

Paleopallium

In anatomy of animals, the paleopallium is a region within the telencephalon in the brain.It is a primitive and evolutionarily ancient region of the brain, first appearing in amphibians....

. As such, the rhinencephalon includes the olfactory bulb, the olfactory tract

Olfactory tract

The olfactory tract is a bundle of axons connecting the mitral and tufted cells of the olfactory bulb to several target regions in the brain, including piriform cortex, amygdala, and entorhinal cortex...

, the olfactory tubercle

Olfactory tubercle

The olfactory tubercle is a structure involved in Olfaction.It is present in humans, but much smaller than it is in some other animals.It is a frequent subject of research.-External links:...

 and striae, the anterior olfactory nucleus

Anterior olfactory nucleus

The anterior olfactory nucleus is a portion of the forebrain of vertebrates.It is involved in olfaction.-Location:...

 and parts of the amygdala

Amygdala

The ' are almond-shaped groups of nuclei located deep within the medial temporal lobes of the brain in complex vertebrates, including humans. Shown in research to perform a primary role in the processing and memory of emotional reactions, the amygdalae are considered part of the limbic system.-...

 and the piriform cortex

Piriform cortex

In anatomy of animals, the piriform cortex, or pyriform cortex is a region in the brain.-Anatomy and function:The piriform cortex is part of the rhinencephalon situated in the telencephalon....

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