The olfactory epithelium, found within the nasal cavity, contains olfactory receptor cells, which have specialized cilia extensions. The cilia trap odour molecules as they pass across the epithelial surface.

What type of epithelium is olfactory epithelium?

The epithelium is pseudostratified columnar and it is hard to differentiate between the olfactory receptor cells, sustentacular cells and basal epithelial cells.

Is olfactory epithelium ciliated columnar?

Analogous to neural glial cells, the supporting cells are non-neural cells in the olfactory epithelium that are located in the apical layer of the pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium. There are two types of supporting cells in the olfactory epithelium: sustentacular cells and microvillar cells.