Preliminary Findings on the Morphometric Characteristics of the Olfactory Bulb in the Cat

The aim of this preliminary study in cats was to study the shape of the olfactory bulb, the brain structure responsible for processing smell, and to relate its morphology to the conformation of the skull in the sagittal plane. MRI images were selected, and the olfactory bulb was analyzed and measured. This evaluation determined that brachycephalic cats, with shorter and wider heads and a flattened snout, have more compact olfactory bulbs, smaller cross-sectional areas, ventral orientation, and smaller angles established with the line that goes from the roof of the mouth to the base of the skull, where the vertebral column connects to the head. Cats classified as dolichocephalic, with an elongated and narrow skull and a longer snout, have more globose and wider olfactory bulbs, dorsal orientation, and larger angles. Mesocephalic animals present an intermediate position. Males and younger adult animals have olfactory bulbs with larger cross-sectional areas than females and older animals. This preliminary work allows for the characterization of the olfactory bulb in cats, and the correlations identified with other head structures open doors for the use of the bulb as an early indicator for the establishment of alterations of a varied nature.