Olfactory cistern

Last edit by Alaric Steinmetz on

Synonyms: Riechzisterne

The olfactory cistern is a paired cistern of the brain and filled with cerebrospinal fluid.

Anatomy

The olfactory cistern is paired and bilaterally surrounds the olfactory bulb and olfactory tract and is located in the superficial part of the olfactory sulcus, which separates the gyrus rectus from the orbital gyrus. The olfactory cistern runs lengthwise in an anteroposterior direction and begins in the region of the olfactory tentorium extending to the olfactory trigone. In coronal cross-section, the olfactory cistern has a triangular shape[^1] [^2].

Illustration

Olfactory cistern
Schematic illustration of the olfactory cistern viewed from above. Figure adapted from Wang S. et al. 2008 ( DOI: 10.1002/micr.20448 )