Jacobson's organ
The Jacobson's organ, is part of the body that helps an animal smell things. It is found in many animals. It was discovered by Frederik Ruysch and later by Ludwig Jacobson in 1813.[1] It is also called the vomeronasal organ or VNO.
| Vomeronasal organ | |
|---|---|
| |
| Frontal section of nasal cavities of a human embryo 28 mm. long (Vomeronasal organ of Jacobson labeled at right) | |
| Latin | organum vomeronasale |
| Lymph | Node |
| Precursor | Nasal placode |
This body part is mainly used to detect pheromones, chemicals that carry information between individuals of the same species. So, sometimes it is called the "sixth sense."
Jacobson's Organ Media
Placement of Jacobson's organ in a snake
Stallion exhibiting the flehmen response
References
- ↑ Jacobson, L. (1813). Anatomisk Beskrivelse over et nyt Organ i Huusdyrenes Næse. Veterinær=Selskapets Skrifter [in Danish] 2,209–246.