Vomeronasal

Elise Pfau and Kirsten DeHaven

Where is it?

There it is in a

human!

The Vomeronasal organ (VNO) is located in the nasal cavity on either side of the nasal septum in humans and animals. It can also be located near

the roof of the mouth in some animals.

Heres a close up look...

Animals?

The vomeronasal organ is very well developed in

snakes, lizards and mice.

What does it do?• Detects chemical

compounds contained within scents.

• Specifically chemical-communication signals (pheromones)

Pheromones!

• There are many different types of pheromones that trigger different responses, such as aggregation pheromones, alarm pheromones, territorial pheromones, information pheromones and sex pheromones.

• The Perfume industry has definitely taken advantage of this.

• Pheromones are found in different parts of the body.

Controversy.• This organ has been found and studied in many animals, but not

known if all humans have it or if the organ functions properly.

• Many studies show that the organ regresses over fetal development.

• Scientific evidence has proved that we are subconsciously influenced by pheromones through our vomeronasal organ to some degree.

• There is no evidence for true vomeronasal sensory nerves connecting the organ to the human brain. Yet it is proven that there is a connection to the brain for certain animals.

• There are nerves running behind the VNO and extending back to the brain but they may be only Nervus terminalis which are trigeminal and autonomic nerve branches.

• Recent studies have shown that homosexuals respond differently to pheromones sent off by heterosexuals. For example, when exposed to a sweat chemical of a straight man, a lesbians brain activity is similar to that of a straight mans brain activity.

Extras

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9Rx9VVXRdI

• Our thoughts.

Resources

• http://www.neuro.fsu.edu/faculty/mmered/vomer/human.htm

• http://chemse.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/26/4/433

• http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2001/05/11/292413.htm?site=science/greatmomentsinscience

• Pure Instinct Perfume

• STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF THE VOMERONASAL ORGAN, KJELL B. DØVING1,* ANDDIDIER TROTIER

• http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/bb/neuro/neuro99/web3/Bernstein.html