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vomeronasal organ

   Also found in: Dictionary/thesaurus, Legal, Acronyms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia 0.01 sec.
organ /or·gan/ (or´gan) a somewhat independent body part that performs a special function.
organ of Corti  the organ lying against the basilar membrane in the cochlear duct, containing special sensory receptors for hearing, and consisting of neuroepithelial hair cells and several types of supporting cells. Called also spiral o.
Enlarge picture
Detail of the organ of Corti (spiral organ) in the cochlear duct in the inner ear.
effector organ  effector (2).
end organ  end-organ.
enamel organ  a process of epithelium forming a cap over a dental papilla and developing into the enamel.
genital organs  reproductive o's.
Golgi tendon organ  any of the mechanoreceptors arranged in series with muscle in the tendons of mammalian muscles, being the receptors for stimuli responsible for the lengthening reaction.
Jacobson's organ  vomeronasal o.
reproductive organs  the various internal and external organs that are concerned with reproduction.
rudimentary organ 
2. an imperfectly or incompletely developed organ.
sense organs , sensory organs organs that receive stimuli that give rise to sensations, i.e., organs that translate certain forms of energy into nerve impulses that are perceived as special sensations.
spiral organ  o. of Corti.
vestigial organ  an undeveloped organ that, in the embryo or in some ancestor, was well developed and functional.
vomeronasal organ  a small sac just above the vomeronasal cartilage; rudimentary in adult humans but well developed in many other animals.
Weber's organ  prostatic utricle.
organs of Zuckerkandl  para-aortic bodies.

vomeronasal organ,
a structure on each side of the nasal septum believed to be a chemical sensory center for "sixth sense" detection of pheromones, carried by the nervous terminalis.

vomeronasal organ
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. The entrances to the sacs are from the incisive ducts which communicate with the nasal cavity and a pit in the roof of the mouth, just behind the dental pad or upper incisor teeth in horses. The function of the organ is probably related to the estrus-seeking action of flehmen. Called also organ of Jacobson.


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To reach the conclusion, Rodriguez's team took tissue from the vomeronasal organ - a pheromone-detecting sense organ found in the nasal cavity of mice, and some other mammals - and searched for genes expressing possible smell receptors.
They may be tasting it, or drawing scent into their vomeronasal organ, which is located in the roof of the mouth.
Pheromones are chemical cues given off by animals that trigger others' behavior by binding to sensory receptors in the vomeronasal organ in mice.
 
 
 
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