Olfactory Epithelium

This is a medium power view of the olfactory epithelium that contains a meshwork of sustentacular microvilli and olfactory cilia on the surface. The epithelium is pseudostratified columnar and it is hard to differentiate between the olfactory receptor cells, sustentacular cells and basal epithelial cells. However, the nuclei of the sustentacular cells tend to be in the top portion of the layer, the nuclei of the olfactory receptor cells tend to be in the middle portion, and the nuclei of the basal epithelial cells tend to be in the bottom portion. One can also see the an afferent nerve bundle.