olfactory pit

pit (pit)

1. a hollow fovea or indentation.

2. a pockmark.

3. a small depression or fault in the dental enamel.

4. to indent, or to become and remain for a few minutes indented, by pressure.

5. a small depression in the nail plate.

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anal pit  proctodeum.

arm pit  the axilla or axillary fossa.

coated pits  small clathrin-coated pits occurring in the plasma membrane of many cells and involved in receptor-mediated endocytosis.

ear pit  preauricular p.

lens pit  a pitlike depression in the ectoderm of the lens placode where the primordial lens is developing.

olfactory pit  the primordium of a nasal cavity.

otic pit  a depression appearing in each otic placode, marking the beginning of embryonic development of the internal ear.

preauricular pit  a small depression anterior to the helix of the ear, sometimes leading to a fistula or congenital preauricular cyst.

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olfactory pit

n.

See nasal pit.

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olfactory

pertaining to the sense of smell.

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olfactory bulb

the bulblike extremity of the olfactory tract on the rostral surface of the frontal lobe of each cerebral hemisphere; it is lodged against the cribriform plate through which the olfactory nerves pass.

olfactory glands

in the mucosa of the nasal olfactory region; branched tubuloalveolar glands secreting serous fluid; cleanse the mucosal surface, dissolve odor-producing substances.

olfactory hair

modified cilia projecting from olfactory cells in the mucosa of the nasal olfactory area.

olfactory mucosa

specialized olfactory cells in a region of nasal mucosa covering ethmoturbinates, turbinates and nasal septum.

olfactory nerve

the first cranial nerve made up of about 20 bundles and concerned with the sense of smell. The cell bodies are situated in the olfactory mucous membrane of the nose. Nerve fibers lead upward through openings in the cribriform plate of the ethmoid bone and connect with the cells of the olfactory bulb. From there the fibers pass inward to the cerebrum. See also Table 14.

olfactory neuroblastoma

rare neoplasm, commonest in pups and kittens, characterized by local invasion of surrounding bone.

olfactory pit

primordia of the nasal cavities commencing as pits in the olfactory placodes of the embryo. The pits deepen and finally open into the oral cavity as the choanae; the external orifices become the nostrils. Called also nasal pit.

olfactory system

includes the olfactory part of the nasal mucosa, the olfactory nerves and the olfactory bulbs of the cerebrum.

olfactory tract

a band of white nerve fibers visible on the ventral surface of the brain running caudally from the olfactory bulbs.

olfactory tractotomy

surgical removal or transection of the olfactory tracts to produce an anosmia may be performed in cats as a means of controlling spraying and inappropriate urination.

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pit

1. a hollow fovea or indentation.

2. a pockmark.

3. to indent, or to become and remain for a few minutes indented, by pressure.

4. seed of a fruit, e.g. cherry. Strictly refers to the hard woody coating which surrounds the seed.

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anal pit

the proctodeum of the embryo.

auditory pit

a distinct depression in each auditory placode, marking the beginning of the embryonic development of the internal ear.

pit bull

a term used in describing various types of dogs used in past times for fighting in pits. Now, usually refers to the specific breed, american pit bull terrier.

lens pit

a pitlike depression in the fetal head where the lens develops.

nasal pit

a depression appearing in the olfactory placodes in the early stages of development of the nose. Called also olfactory pit.

olfactory pit

see nasal pit (above).

otic pit

early stage in the development of the embryonic inner ear.

pit pony

pony used in a mine to haul mined rock. Breed varies as long as it is small, e.g. Shetland pony.

pit of stomach

the epigastric fossa or epigastric region.

pit viper

see viper.