Olfactory tract
Encyclopedia
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
. It is a narrow white band, triangular on coronal section, the apex being directed upward.
It lies in the olfactory sulcus
on the inferior surface of the frontal lobe
, and divides posteriorly into two striæ, a medial olfactory stria
and a lateral olfactory stria
.
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...
to several target regions in the brain, including 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....
, 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 entorhinal cortex
Entorhinal cortex
The entorhinal cortex is located in the medial temporal lobe and functions as a hub in a widespread network for memory and navigation. The EC is the main interface between the hippocampus and neocortex...
. It is a narrow white band, triangular on coronal section, the apex being directed upward.
It lies in the olfactory sulcus
Olfactory sulcus
The medial orbital gyrus presents a well-marked antero-posterior sulcus, the olfactory sulcus, for the olfactory tract.-Additional images:...
on the inferior surface of the frontal lobe
Frontal lobe
The frontal lobe is an area in the brain of humans and other mammals, located at the front of each cerebral hemisphere and positioned anterior to the parietal lobe and superior and anterior to the temporal lobes...
, and divides posteriorly into two striæ, a 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:...
and a 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...
.