Preferred Label : vomeronasal organ;
Uberon definition : An organ thought to supplement the olfactory system in receiving pheromonic communication.
The sensory part of the organ is in two long, thin sacs, situated on either side of
the nasal septum at its base.;
Uberon synonym : Jacobson's organ;
Uberon related term : VNO; organ of Jacobsen;
Uberon Homology note : (...) the vomeronasal organ is known only in some tetrapods. It is absent in most
turtles, crocodiles, birds, some bats, and aquatic mammals. In amphibians, it is in
a recessed area off the main nasal cavity. (...) In mammals possesing this organ,
it is an isolated area of olfactory membrane within the nasal cavity that is usually
connected to the mouth via the nasopalatine duct (reference 1); The opinions concerning
the presence and functioning of the vomeronasal organ in humans are controversial.
The vomeronasal cavities appear early in human foetuses. (...) Historical examination
of the nasal septum revealed the presence of vomeronasal cavities in approximately
70% of adults. In contrast to the situation in other mammals, the organ is not supported
by a rigid tube of bone or cartilage (reference 2); (...) the best evidence for the
homology of the human VNO to that of other primates (and of mammals in general) is
ontogenetic in nature, based on a common embryonic origin from a thickening (vomeronasal
primordium) on the medial aspect of each olfactory pit (reference 3); (...) suggesting
that lungfish possess a region homologous to the accessory olfactory bulb of tetrapods.
Based on these results, it seems appropriate to refer to the recess epithelium as
a primordium of the vomeronasal organ (reference 4). [debated][VHOG];
Uberon Taxon note : Generally formed only in tetrapods; lungfish have rudimentary VN organs; true VN organs
are not normally found in recent fishes, birds, aquatic reptiles, aquatic mammals
(Bertmar 1980). Humans: Its presence in many animals has been widely studied and the
importance of the vomeronasal system to the role of reproduction and social behavior
(through influence on anterior hypothalamus) has been shown in many studies. Its presence
and functionality in humans was controversial, though most studies agree the organ
regresses during fetal development. Many genes essential for VNO function in animals
(such as TRPC2) are non-functional in humans (Liman ER. Use it or lose it: molecular
evolution of sensory signaling in primates. Pflugers Arch. 2006;453(2):125-31.);
Origin ID : 0002255;
Automatic exact mappings (from CISMeF team)
- Uberon cross reference
- develops from
- has developmental contribution from
- has part
- part of
An organ thought to supplement the olfactory system in receiving pheromonic communication.
The sensory part of the organ is in two long, thin sacs, situated on either side of
the nasal septum at its base.
