Brunner's Glands in the Nose: Function & Anatomy

Brunner's gland

Brunner's glands are rare sensory neurons in the nose. They are named after the German anatomist Johann Konrad Brunner, who first described them in 1715. Brunner's glands are located in the olfactory epithelium, which is the tissue that lines the nasal cavity. They are small, round glands that produce a fluid that helps to dissolve odor molecules. This fluid also contains enzymes that help to break down the odor molecules into smaller, more easily detectable molecules.

Brunner's glands are only found in humans and a few other primates. They are thought to play an important role in our ability to smell.