Nasal placode

Nasal placode

The Nasal placode also known as olfactory placode is a thickened area of ectoderm that gives rise to the olfactory epithelium of the nose. It is one of the cranial placodes, which are derivatives of the ectoderm layer of the embryo that form the sensory organs, cranial ganglia, and some cranial nerves of the head and neck.

Etymology[edit | edit source]

The term "placode" is derived from the Greek word "plakoeis" which means "flat". This refers to the flat, plate-like appearance of the placodes in the early stages of embryonic development.

Development[edit | edit source]

The nasal placode develops in the fourth week of embryonic development. It begins as a thickening of the surface ectoderm at the front of the head. This thickened area, the nasal placode, then invaginates to form the nasal pit. The nasal pit will eventually give rise to the nasal cavity and the olfactory epithelium.

Function[edit | edit source]

The nasal placode is responsible for the development of the olfactory system, which is the sensory system used for smelling. The cells of the nasal placode differentiate into olfactory receptor neurons, which are responsible for detecting odor molecules in the air.

Related Terms[edit | edit source]

Ectoderm: One of the three primary germ layers in the very early embryo.
Embryo: An early stage in the development of a multicellular organism.
Olfactory epithelium: A specialized epithelial tissue inside the nasal cavity that is involved in smell.
Cranial placodes: Areas of thickened ectoderm that give rise to various structures in the head and neck.

See also[edit | edit source]

Nasal placode Resources
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