Final answer:
The correct anatomical landmarks for the olfactory projection pathways are the olfactory bulb and the olfactory cortex. Olfactory signals travel from the olfactory bulbs directly to the olfactory cortex, bypassing the thalamus, and are then processed in regions linked with memory and emotions, including the amygdala and the hippocampus.
Step-by-step explanation:
Anatomical Landmarks in the Olfactory Projection Pathways
The correct anatomical landmarks for the olfactory projection pathways in the brain are the olfactory bulb and the olfactory cortex. The olfactory bulbs receive input from olfactory receptor neurons, which project as thin, unmyelinated axons from the olfactory epithelium, through the cribriform plate, and synapse within the glomeruli of the olfactory bulbs. From there, the olfactory signals travel to the olfactory cortex and are then processed by other regions of the brain including the frontal cortex, thalamus, limbic system structures such as the amygdala, and eventually to areas important for memory and emotions.
Unlike other senses, the olfactory pathway is unique as it does not route through the thalamus before reaching the cortex. The intimate connection between the olfactory system and the cortex allows for the potent triggering of memories and emotions by certain smells. The olfactory pathway includes a direct route to the amygdala encompassing emotional response, and ties to the hippocampus important for associative learning and memory processing.