Sensory nerve ending in nasal mucosa

Sensory nerve endings in the nasal mucosa are terminal fibers of cranial nerves—primarily the olfactory nerve (cranial nerve I) and branches of the trigeminal nerve (cranial nerve V)—that detect sensory stimuli including odorants (smell), irritants, temperature, and mechanical changes[1][2][3][4]. Olfactory nerve endings specialize in olfaction, residing in the olfactory epithelium at the apex of the nasal cavity and expressing odorant receptors, a subclass of G protein-coupled receptors, on their cilia[1][2][3][4]. Trigeminal nerve endings, widely distributed in the mucosa, mediate sensations such as burning, stinging, and pain in response to irritants and can trigger protective reflexes. These sensory endings are not specific molecules or targets, but rather physiologic termini of multiple neuron types reaching the nasal mucosa. Damage or dysfunction can result from infection, trauma, chronic rhinitis, or neurodegenerative disease, manifesting as olfactory loss or altered sensation[1][2][3][4].

Other names

Sensory afferent endings in nasal mucosaNasal sensory nerve endingsNasal mucosal sensory nervesOlfactory nerve endingsTrigeminal nerve endings (in nasal mucosa)

Block of voltage-gated sodium channels (local anesthetics inhibit action potential propagation in sensory nerves); Stimulation/desensitization of nociceptive fibers (capsaicin)