嗅神经是第一对脑神经，编号Ⅰ。

嗅神经由特殊内脏感觉纤维组成，由上鼻甲以上和鼻中隔以上部粘膜内的嗅细胞中枢突聚集而成，包括20多条嗅丝。

嗅神经的主要功能是将气味的感觉传递给大脑半球的嗅球。嗅神经穿过筛孔进入颅前窝，连于嗅球传导嗅觉。

神经接受器位于鼻腔的上鼻甲及鼻中膈间的黏膜上，所以任何会造成这条嗅觉路径上的机械性障碍、化学物质破坏、病毒感染、肿瘤的压迫或先天的因素皆有可能造成嗅觉低下 ，甚至嗅觉全丧失。

The olfactory nerve (Latin:nervus olfactorius) is typically considered the first cranial nerve, or simply CN I. It contains the afferent nerve fibers of the olfactory receptor neurons, transmitting nerve impulses about odors to the central nervous system, where they are perceived by the sense of smell (olfaction). Derived from the embryonic nasal placode, the olfactory nerve is somewhat unique among cranial nerves because it is capable of some regeneration if damaged. The olfactory nerve is sensory in nature and originates on the olfactory mucosa in the upper part of the nasal cavity. From the olfactory mucosa, the nerve (actually many small nerve fascicles) travels up through the cribriform plate of the ethmoid bone to reach the surface of the brain. Here the fascicles enter the olfactory bulb and synapse there; from the bulbs (one on each side) the olfactory information is transmitted into the brain via the olfactory tract. The fascicles of the olfactory nerve are not visible on a cadaver brain because they are severed upon removal.