Organ Of Jacobson, Vomeronasal Organ

The Jacobson Organ, also known as the Vomeronasal Organ, is a small, closed sac in the wall of the nasal cavity. In humans, it never fully develops and does not perform any special functions, but in lower animals (for example, snakes) it is one of the main organs of smell.

The Jacobson organ was first described by the Danish anatomist Frederik Jacobson in 1809, hence its name. In reptiles and amphibians, it plays an important role in detecting chemical signals associated with territorial behavior, mating, and foraging. The vomeronasal organ is connected by a duct to the oral cavity and uses a special pumping mechanism to suck in chemical molecules for analysis by olfactory receptors.

In mammals, the vomeronasal organ is also present, but its size and degree of development vary greatly depending on the species. In predators it is usually well developed and is used to detect pheromones and assess the condition of females. In humans, this organ is present in a rudimentary form and is considered a vestigial organ that does not have significant functional significance. However, some researchers have suggested that the remnant Jacobson's organ may play a role in the perception of certain chemical stimuli and pheromones.

Jacobson's organ (Organ of Jacobson) and Soshnikov's organ (Vomeronsenal organ) are rather mysterious organs of the human body. Despite the fact that these organs are located next to each other and have the same function, they are significantly different from each other.

Jacobson's organ is one of the structures of the human olfactory system, which is located inside the nose. It is located on the medial wall of the nasal passage (the thickest area of ​​the wall) at the level of the 2nd-3rd fingers (from the tip of the nose) and is a closed sac. The known task of this organ is to secrete aromatic molecules and transport them to the sense of smell.

Organ Of Jacobson, Vomeronasal Organs: Functions & Anatomy

The Jacobson's organ and the vomeronasal organ are two similar but not identical organs that may differ from each other depending on the species of animal in which they are found. Anatomically, they have slightly different structures and functions, although they perform similar tasks. Jacobson's organ is located in the walls of the nasal cavity, and the vomeronasal organ in the anterior part of the pharynx. Below we will look at both of these organs and their importance in the life of living organisms, in particular humans.

First, you need to find out what the Jacobson organon (Orgestrum Jakobseni) and the olfactory vomer organon (Sephoniserione Nasale) are.

This pair of organs are specialized formations - short tubes ending in a pair of often closed sacs. They are located in the mucous membrane of the nasal passages at the entrance to the nasal cavity at the level of the lateral openings. The Jacobson organ serves as a support for the cilia and is located in eleven pairs in humans; however, in some animals, such as snakes or lizards, it can be much larger. Its end covers the head epithelium and is free from the auditory lymphoid thickening.

The first organon was discovered by a famous scientist. Louise Jakobsson was a graduate 40 years ago and conducted research on the function of the brain's olfactory centers. While working on a plan for a lecture course in physiology, she noticed that her own nose protruded into a small tubercle during long periods of absence of food. As a result of personal experiments, it was found that if you cut off the tip of the nose, the sensitivity of the olfactory organ is significantly reduced. It is known that the olfactory centers of the brain control impulses during food consumption and the olfactory organs. According to this conclusion, the structure of the olfactory organs, which transmit impulses, can influence the sensation of taste.

Jacobson's organs of Jacobson's organs

The human nose has a huge number of sensory cells, so Jacobson's organ has a special role