ABSTRACT
To study the microstructure characteristics and clinical significance of olfactory cistern,we dissected the olfactory cisterns of 15 adult cadeveric heads under an operating microscope. The results showed that olfactory cistern was situated in the shallow part of the olfactory sulcus, which separated the gyrus rectus from the orbital gyrus. The cistern was triangular in shape in all coronal sections. The anterior portion of the cistern encased the olfactory bulbs, high and broad. The posterior portion of the cistern, which was also broad, was on the medial superior side of internal carotid artery. There were openings in the lower aspects of the posterior portions of 53 4% of the cisterns. The middle portion, which made up more than half length of the cistern, became narrower and narrower as it extended backwards. Most cisterns were spacious, in which there were less fiber trabeculae and bands between olfactory nerves and cistern walls. 23% of the cisterns were narrow and small, with their walls encasing the nerves tightly. The blood supply of the olfactory nerve was mainly from several slender arteries. But the arterial supply was segmental in some cisterns. In conclusion, most olfactory cisterns were spacious and short of fibril connections. The arterial supply of most olfactory nerves was relatively independent. Olfactory tract could be separated from the walls of the cisterns for 1-2cm in operation. But the tracts could not be separated easily in about 1/4 cases, because the originating sites of olfactory arteries were much in front of them or there were abundant fiber connections in the cisterns.