anterior olfactory nucleus

anterior olfactory nucleus (AON)

The term anterior olfactory nucleus refers to the most rostral group of nerve cells that receive input from the main olfactory bulb. The cells are identified histologically by Nissl stain. In the human and the macaque they form small groups scattered within the olfactory tract from the main olfactory bulb through the olfactory peduncle to a much larger group on the dorsal surface of the tract on the underside of the orbital gyri. It is composed of several subgroups, which are defined by internal structure. Since the overall structure of the nucleus differs by species, the subgroups vary considerably. The human has only bulbar, medial, and lateral subdivisions ( Price-2004 ). The macaque has, in addition, external and dorsal subdivisions ( Price-2004 ). The rat has medial, lateral, dorsal, external and posteroventral parts ( Swanson-2004 ). And the mouse has the same as the rat except for a ventral part and no posteroventral part ( Hof-2000 ). The nucleus is part of the olfactory system, which mediates the sense of smell. Updated 26 Oct 2024.

Also known as: anterior olfactory nucleus, Nucleus olfactorius anterior, retrobulbar region, Regio retrobulbaris, Area retrobulbaris

NeuroNames ID: 280

All Names & Sources

1 of 18

Showing 18 synonym(s) - Use arrows to navigate

Showing 18 synonym(s)

Name:

nukleus olfaktori anterior

Language:

Indonesian

Organism:

human

Source:

Noback-1982

Citation:

Jakarta: Penerbit Buku Kedokteran EGC, 1982

Source Title:

Anatomi Susunan Saraf Manusia, Prinsip-Prinsip Dasar Neurobiologi

Name:

AON

Language:

acronym

Organism:

rat

Source:

Swanson-1998

Citation:

Second Revised Edition, Elsevier Science, Amsterdam, 1998

Source Title:

Brain Maps: Structure of the Rat Brain

Name:

nucleo olfattivo anteriore

Language:

Italian

Organism:

human

Source:

Carpenter-1995

Citation:

EdiSes, s.r.l.- Napoli, 1995

Source Title:

Fondamenti di Neuroanatomia

Name:

anterior olfactory nucleus

Language:

English

Organism:

human

Source:

Carpenter-1983

Citation:

Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins Co., 1983

Source Title:

Human Neuroanatomy

Name:

anterior olfactory nucleus

Language:

English

Organism:

Macaca fascicularis

Source:

Martin-1997

Citation:

Primate Information Center, University of Washington, Seattle, 1997.

Source Title:

Template Atlas of the Primate Brain

Name:

anterior olfactory nucleus

Language:

English

Organism:

rat

Source:

Bowden-1997

Citation:

Source Title:

A digital Rosetta stone for primate brain terminology

Name:

Nucleus olfactorius anterior

Language:

Latin

Organism:

human

Source:

Riley-1943

Citation:

Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins Co., 1943

Source Title:

An Atlas Of The Basal Ganglia, Brain Stem And Spinal Cord (Based On Myelin-Stained Material)

Name:

retrobulbar region

Language:

English

Organism:

human

Source:

Zilles-1990

Citation:

Chapter 22, pp. 757-802 in The Human Nervous System, G. Paxinos (Ed.), Academic Press, San Diego, 1990

Source Title:

Cortex

Name:

Regio retrobulbaris

Language:

Latin

Organism:

human

Source:

Zilles-1990

Citation:

Chapter 22, pp. 757-802 in The Human Nervous System, G. Paxinos (Ed.), Academic Press, San Diego, 1990

Source Title:

Cortex

Name:

Regio retrobulbaris

Language:

Latin

Organism:

Cercocebus torquatus

Source:

Stephan-1970

Citation:

Chapter 5, pp. 289-297 in Advances in Primatology, C.R. Noback and W. Montagna (eds.), (Appleton Century Croft; New York)

Source Title:

The allocortex in primates

Name:

Area retrobulbaris

Language:

Latin

Organism:

human

Source:

Mai-1997

Citation:

San Diego: Academic Press, 1997

Source Title:

Atlas of the Human Brain

Name:

olfaktorisches Gebiet

Language:

German

Organism:

human

Source:

Schiebler-1999

Citation:

Eighth Edition, Springer Verlag, Berlin, 1999.

Source Title:

Anatomie

Name:

Language:

acronym

Organism:

human

Source:

Mai-1997

Citation:

San Diego: Academic Press, 1997

Source Title:

Atlas of the Human Brain

Name:

anterior olfactory nucleus

Language:

English

Organism:

mouse

Source:

Dong-2004

Citation:

Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, 2004

Source Title:

Allen Reference Atlas

Name:

Language:

acronym

Organism:

Macaca mulatta

Source:

Paxinos-2009a

Citation:

Amsterdam: Elsevier-Academic Press. 2009

Source Title:

The Rhesus Monkey Brain, Second Edition

Name:

AON

Language:

acronym

Organism:

macaque

Source:

Amaral-1992

Citation:

Chapter 1, pp. 1-66 in The Amygdala: Neurobiological Aspects of Emotion, Memory, and Mental Dysfunction, Aggleton, J.P. (ed),Wiley-Liss, New York, 1992

Source Title:

Anatomical organization of the primate amygdaloid complex

Name:

OLFa

Language:

acronym

Organism:

Unspecified

Source:

NeuroNames

Citation:

University of Washington, Seattle, WA

Source Title:

NeuroNames

Name:

anterior olfactory nucleus

Language:

English

Organism:

rat

Source:

Swanson-2004

Citation:

Third Edition, Elsevier Academic Press, Oxford, 2004

Source Title:

Brain Maps: Structure of the Rat Brain.

Illustrations

Showing 5 illustration(s)

labeled line drawings of
sagittal section in
Macaca fascicularis

multiple views of
3D reconstruction in
Macaca mulatta

diagrams of medial and
orbital prefrontal cortex in
human and macaque

Nissl stain & diagram of
coronal section in
mouse

Nissl stain & diagram of
sagittal section in
mouse

Species With The Structure

Equivalent By	Human	Macaque	Rat	Mouse
Internal Structure	Has The Structure	Has The Structure	Relevant Data Not Located	Has The Structure

1 of 7

Showing 7 record(s) - Use arrows to navigate

Showing 7 record(s)

Basis:

Internal Structure

Has Equivalent:

Yes

Organism:

Homo sapiens (human)

Their Name:

anterior olfactory nucleus

Source:

Carpenter-1983

Basis:

Internal Structure

Has Equivalent:

Yes

Organism:

Homo sapiens (human)

Their Name:

Area retrobulbaris

Source:

Mai-1997

Basis:

Internal Structure

Has Equivalent:

Yes

Organism:

Homo sapiens (human)

Their Name:

Nucleus olfactorius anterior

Source:

Riley-1943

Basis:

Internal Structure

Has Equivalent:

Yes

Organism:

Homo sapiens (human)

Their Name:

Regio retrobulbaris

Source:

Zilles-1990

Basis:

Internal Structure

Has Equivalent:

Yes

Organism:

Homo sapiens (human)

Their Name:

retrobulbar region

Source:

Zilles-1990

Basis:

Internal Structure

Has Equivalent:

Yes

Organism:

Macaca fascicularis (Macaca fascicularis)

Their Name:

anterior olfactory nucleus

Source:

Martin-1997

Basis:

Internal Structure

Has Equivalent:

Yes

Organism:

Mus (mouse)

Their Name:

anterior olfactory nucleus

Source:

Dong-2004

Models Where It Appears

Structural CNS Model - Macaque

Brain structures of the macaque are illustrated in BrainInfo’s NeuroMaps macaque brain atlas. Structures are grouped by proximity in a hierarchy corresponding to the central nervous system hierarchy of NeuroNames ( Bowden-1995 Martin-2000 ). Structures in the NeuroMaps atlas are based on the segmentation of an MRI of the brain of a 3-year old male rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta). The atlas is most useful for targeting structures for implantating electrodes and chemtrodes. Updated 29 Oct 2025.

Functional CNS Model - Rat

The Functional CNS Model - Rat (FMrat) ( Swanson-2004) is one of three hierarchical models representing the internal organization of the central nervous system (CNS). The others are the Structural CNS Model - Human (SThmn) and the Functional CNS Model - Human (FMhmn). The FMrat model represents the basic organization of the mouse ( Hof-2000 AMBA-2024 ) and, presumably, other rodents. Functional CNS models differ from structural models in that structures are defined and named by connectivity rather than by proximity to other structures at the same level. Functional models are more useful for representing longitudinal components of are grouped based on information drawn from multiple neuroscientific disciplines. such as connections, neurochemical characteristics, and role in physiogical and behavioral processes. While the Functional Model was developed primarily for an atlas of the rat brain ( Swanson-2004 ), the hierarchical organization of structures is for the most part applicable to the human, macaque, mouse and other mammalian brains as well. Structures at lower levels of the Functional CNS hierarchy are largely the same as in the Classical and Developmental Models, i.e., they were originally identified by stains for gray matter (Nissl substance) and white matter (myelin). At the next higher level they are grouped into basic connectional and functional systems of the CNS, such as the subcortical sensory systems, the brainstem motor system and the behavioral state system. At the highest levels CNS structures are grouped on the basis of dissection and embryologic precursors into cerebrum ( cerebral cortex and cerebral nuclei ), cerebellum, and cerebrospinal trunk.

white matter (basic fiber systems)

cerebral ventricles (ventricular system)