VOMERONASAL ORGAN Meaning and
Definition
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The vomeronasal organ, commonly abbreviated as VNO, is a sensory organ found within the nasal cavity of many animals, including most mammals. It is responsible for detecting and processing pheromones, chemical substances secreted by animals that trigger various social and reproductive behaviors.
The structure of the vomeronasal organ consists of a pair of small, duct-like structures that extend from the base of the nasal cavity. These ducts are lined with sensory epithelium, which contains specialized receptor cells called vomeronasal receptors. These receptors have the ability to detect and bind to specific pheromone molecules, initiating a chemical signal that is transmitted to the brain for further processing.
Through the vomeronasal organ, animals are able to gather important information about their environment, such as identifying potential mates, marking territory, and recognizing familiar individuals. The information obtained through the VNO helps animals to make crucial social and reproductive decisions, influencing their behavior in significant ways.
In humans, the presence and functionality of the vomeronasal organ have been a subject of debate. While it is believed that humans possess a structure resembling the VNO during fetal development, evidence suggests that it may regress and lose its functionality later in life. However, research in this area continues, and its potential role in human behavior and olfaction remains under investigation.
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Jacobson's organ, organon vomeronasale.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for VOMERONASAL ORGAN
- comeronasal organ
- bomeronasal organ
- gomeronasal organ
- fomeronasal organ
- vimeronasal organ
- vkmeronasal organ
- vlmeronasal organ
- vpmeronasal organ
- v0meronasal organ
- v9meronasal organ
- voneronasal organ
- vokeronasal organ
- vojeronasal organ
- vomwronasal organ
- vomsronasal organ
- vomdronasal organ
- vomrronasal organ
- vom4ronasal organ
- vom3ronasal organ
- vomeeonasal organ
Etymology of VOMERONASAL ORGAN
The word "vomeronasal" is derived from Latin roots. "Vomero" refers to the Latin word "vomer" meaning "ploughshare", while "nasal" pertains to the Latin word "nasus" meaning "nose". Therefore, the term "vomeronasal" translates to "pertaining to the nose and vomer". The "vomeronasal organ" refers to a specialized organ found in some animals, such as reptiles and mammals, that is responsible for detecting pheromones and other chemical signals.
