vomeronasal organ
noun
vom·ero·na·sal organ
ˌvä-mə-rō-ˈnā-zəl- 
ˌvō-
: either of a pair of small blind pouches or tubes in many vertebrates that are situated one on either side of the nasal septum or in the buccal cavity and that are reduced to rudimentary pits in adult humans but are developed in reptiles, amphibians, and some mammals as chemoreceptors
called also Jacobson's organ
Examples of vomeronasal organ in a Sentence
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A number of other mammals have structures inside their noses called the the vomeronasal organ (VNO) and main olfactory epithelium (MOE) designed to detect pheromones.
—
Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 29 Mar. 2025
Scientists found that vomeronasal organs are, in fact, an offshoot of the nose, lined with similar sensory cells that send impulses to the same part of the brain as the nose, and discovered that tiny particles picked up by the tongue tips ended up inside the vomeronasal organ.
—Kurt Schwenk, The Conversation, 16 June 2021
In this new study, published in the journal Cell, neurobiologist Lisa Stowers decided to investigate whether the vomeronasal organ was capable of picking up signals from other species as well.
—Eliza Strickland, Discover Magazine, 18 May 2010
The vomeronasal organ helps cats detect minute chemical clues about their environment, including the proximity and status of other cats.
—Gemma Tarlach, Discover Magazine, 25 Aug. 2014
According to his hypothesis, the women who orgasm from the smell of the mushroom are those equipped with a functioning vomeronasal organ (VNO).
—Christie Wilcox, Discover Magazine, 14 Feb. 2016
Each tip delivers to its own vomeronasal organ separately, allowing the snake’s brain to assess instantly which side has the stronger smell.
—Kurt Schwenk, The Conversation, 16 June 2021
Mice and a number of vertebrates have neurons in their noses, in something called the vomeronasal organ — the VNO.
—Quanta Magazine, 14 Dec. 2020
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Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 29 Mar. 2025
Scientists found that vomeronasal organs are, in fact, an offshoot of the nose, lined with similar sensory cells that send impulses to the same part of the brain as the nose, and discovered that tiny particles picked up by the tongue tips ended up inside the vomeronasal organ.
—Kurt Schwenk, The Conversation, 16 June 2021
In this new study, published in the journal Cell, neurobiologist Lisa Stowers decided to investigate whether the vomeronasal organ was capable of picking up signals from other species as well.
—Eliza Strickland, Discover Magazine, 18 May 2010
The vomeronasal organ helps cats detect minute chemical clues about their environment, including the proximity and status of other cats.
—Gemma Tarlach, Discover Magazine, 25 Aug. 2014
According to his hypothesis, the women who orgasm from the smell of the mushroom are those equipped with a functioning vomeronasal organ (VNO).
—Christie Wilcox, Discover Magazine, 14 Feb. 2016
Each tip delivers to its own vomeronasal organ separately, allowing the snake’s brain to assess instantly which side has the stronger smell.
—Kurt Schwenk, The Conversation, 16 June 2021
Mice and a number of vertebrates have neurons in their noses, in something called the vomeronasal organ — the VNO.
—Quanta Magazine, 14 Dec. 2020
Cite this Entry
“Vomeronasal organ.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vomeronasal%20organ. Accessed 7 May. 2025.
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