Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Development of olfactory and related structures in staged human embryos

  • Published:
Anatomy and Embryology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

The staged sequence of development of the olfactory and related structures has been established from the serially sectioned human embryos of the Carnegie collection, from stage 11 to stage 23.

The nasal epiblastic thickening appears at stage 11 and the nasal field is well outlined at stage 12. At stage 15, a continuous cellulovascular strand is observed between the nasal groove and the olfactory field. The vomeronasal groove appears at stage 16 (O'Rahilly 1967). During stage 17, the olfactory nerve is organized into two plexuses, lateral and medial, the latter mingled with the terminal-vomeronasal complex. The olfactory bulb begins to appear at stage 18. Stage 19 is characterized by the individualization of the olfactory bulb and nuclei. In addition, the distinction between olfactory structures and terminal and vomeronasal ones begins to be clear. The structure of the olfactory bulb is evident at stage 21. At stage 23, the olfactory strands are well individualized, and olfactory and terminal-vomeronasal fibers are easily distinguishable.

The terminal ganglion is rather terminal-vomeronasal with an autonomic terminal contingent and a sensory one attached to the vomeronasal system.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Campenhout E van (1936) Origine du nerf olfactif chez le porc. Arch Anat Microsc 32:391–407

    Google Scholar 

  • Campenhout E van (1948) La contribution des placodes épiblastiques au développement des ganglions des nerfs crâniens chez l'embryon humain. Arch Biol (Paris) 59:253–266

    Google Scholar 

  • Campenhout E van (1957) Le développement embryonnaire comparé des nerfs olfactif et auditif. Acta Otorhinolaryngol Belg 11:279–287

    Google Scholar 

  • Detwiler SR (1936) Neuroembryology, an experimental study. Macmillan New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Fagnart JR (1950) Le système nerveux périphérique crânien d'un embryon humain de 29 mm. Arch Biol Liège 61:151–186

    Google Scholar 

  • Hamburger V (1961) Experimental analysis of the dual origin of the trigeminal ganglion in the chick embryo. J Exp Zool 148(3):91–123

    Google Scholar 

  • Hines M (1922) Studies in the growth and differentiation of the telencephalon in man. The fissura hippocampi. J Comp Neurol 34:73–171

    Google Scholar 

  • Humphrey T (1940) The development of the olfactory and accessory olfactory formations in human embryos and fetuses. J Comp Neurol 73:431–468

    Google Scholar 

  • Humphrey T (1963) The development of the anterior olfactory nucleus of human fetuses. Progress in brain research, Elsevier Amsterdam Vol 3, pp 170–190

    Google Scholar 

  • Humphrey T (1966) Correlations between the development of the hippocampal formation and the differentiation of the olfactory bulb. Ala J Med Sci 3:235–269

    Google Scholar 

  • Humphrey T (1967) The development of the human tuberculum olfactorium during the first three months of embryonic life. J Hirnforsch 9:437–469

    Google Scholar 

  • Humphrey T (1968) The development of the human amygdala during early embryonic life. J Comp Neurol 132:135–165

    Google Scholar 

  • Larsell O (1950) The nervus terminalis. Ann Otolaryngol 59:414–438

    Google Scholar 

  • Lazorthes G (1944) Le nerf terminal... premier nerf crânien? Etude chez l'homme et quelques mammifères. Toulouse: Thèse de Sciences Naturelles

  • Masy S (1955), Le système nerveux périphérique crânien de l'embryon humain de 9 mm. J Embryol Exp Morphol 3:30–43

    Google Scholar 

  • O'Rahilly R (1965) The optic, vestibulocochlear, and terminal-vomeronasal neural crest in staged human embryos. In: Rohen JW (ed) Eye structure, II symposium. Schattauer-Verlag Stuttgart pp 557–564

    Google Scholar 

  • O'Rahilly R (1967) The early development of the nasal pit in staged human embryos. Anat Rec 157:380

    Google Scholar 

  • Pearson A (1941) The development of the olfactory nerve in man J Comp Neurol 15:199–217

    Google Scholar 

  • Pearson A (1941) The development of nervus terminalis in man. J Comp Neurol 15:39–66

    Google Scholar 

  • Verwoerd CDA, Oostrom CG van (1979) Cephalic neural crest and placodes. Adv Anat Embryol Cell Biol 58:1–75

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire d'Anatomie, Faculté de Médecine de Montpellier-Nîmes, Avenue Kennedy, 30000, Nîmes

    J. Bossy

  2. Carnegie Laboratories of Embryology, University of California, 95616, Davis, California, USA

    J. Bossy

Authors
  1. J. Bossy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Supported by research programme project grant No. HD-08658, Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health (USA)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Bossy, J. Development of olfactory and related structures in staged human embryos. Anat Embryol 161, 225–236 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00305346

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00305346

Key words

Search

Navigation