Final answer:
The olfactory nerve (CN I) functions to transmit sensory information from the olfactory receptors to the brain, enabling the sense of smell. Anosmia, or loss of smell, can occur due to injury or aging, but the olfactory nerve has some capacity for regeneration.
Step-by-step explanation:
The function of the olfactory nerve (CN I) is related to the sense of smell. This nerve is responsible for transmitting sensory information from the olfactory receptors in the nasal cavity to the brain, which interprets the signals as distinct odors. Testing for the sense of smell involves presenting common smells like coffee or mint to one nostril at a time, and successful recognition indicates a properly functioning olfactory system. An inability to smell, known as anosmia, can occur due to factors such as blunt trauma to the head or aging. While the olfactory receptors and their axons can regenerate, severe damage such as the shearing of fibers in a motor vehicle accident may lead to loss of smell that can be permanent if connections with the olfactory bulb are not re-established. However, if not completely severed, the olfactory nerve can eventually heal as new neurons reconnect. Name the five senses: Hearing, sight, taste, touch, and smell. The olfactory nerve is one of the strictly sensory nerves, specifically dedicated to the sense of smell, while other nerves like the optic and vestibulocochlear nerves are responsible for sight, and balance and hearing, respectively.