ObjectiveTo investigate the methods of magnetic resonance (MR) scanning and volume measurement of olfactory bulb and establish the volume range of olfactory bulb in normal adults.MethodsEightytwo healthy volunteers were divided into four groups according to age. MR T1 IR sequence scanning was adopted to scan bilateral olfactory bulb, and the volumes of bilateral olfactory bulb were calculated by computer aided volume analysis method. The correlation between gender and olfactory bulb volume and the tendency of olfactory bulb volume on different age groups were studied.ResultsThere was a difference in olfactory bulb volume between the young male group and the old male group (P=0.048). There was a gender difference between olfactory bulb volume in the 60yearold group (P=0.03),There is no significant difference in olfactory bulb volume between the two sides（P＞0.05）.ConclusionMR T1 IR sequence can clearly show the olfactory bulb contour and can be used for the measurement of olfactory bulb volume. The olfactory bulb volume shows tendency to decrease with age in male. On the contrary, the olfactory bulb in female shrinks less than in male and increases slightly in the elderly.There is no significant difference between the two sides.