Projection of the Olfactory Epithelium on to the Olfactory Bulb: a Correction

Abstract

IN a study of the peripheral pattern of olfactory innervation¹, observations were made on the rate of retrograde degeneration of olfactory receptors following lesions of the olfactory bulb. It was incidentally noted that, at least over the cartilaginous part of the septum examined, partial ablation of the bulb appeared to lead to a general thinning out of the receptors rather than to a localized area of complete atrophy. It was therefore inferred that, if the septal mucosa can be assumed to be representative of the olfactory mucosa as a whole, olfactory nerve fibres from each local area are distributed to all parts of the bulb. Afterwards, Adrian adduced good evidence, based on electro-physiological methods, that there is at least some degree of localization in the bulb, and indicated that this may have an important reference to problems of olfactory discrimination². It was therefore deemed necessary to re-investigate the matter anatomically on a much more extended scale.