the function of the olfactory nerve concerns
Olfactory Nerve: Function, Disorders & Regeneration Function of the Olfactory Nerve. The olfactory nerve is responsible for your sense of smell and partially responsible for your sense of taste. It is also known as cranial nerve 1 because it is the shortest of the cranial nerves and one of only two nerves (the other is the optic nerve) that bypass the brain stem and connect directly to your brain.