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A review of the vomeronasal organ in humans: an enigmatic sensory structure Cover

A review of the vomeronasal organ in humans: an enigmatic sensory structure

Open Access
|Aug 2025

Abstract

The vomeronasal organ (VNO), sometimes known as Jacobson’s organ, is a vestigial anatomical feature in humans whose function and evolutionary relevance remain controversial. While clearly defined and functional in many vertebrates—notably for pheromone detection and behavioural regulation—its role in humans is ambiguous. This review consolidates current morphological, histological, neurological and clinical findings about the VNO, while emphasising developmental trends and population-specific data. Drawing on historical studies, molecular biology and comparative anatomy, we aim to offer a comprehensive perspective on the VNO’s presence and potential roles in human biology.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/rjr-2025-0017 | Journal eISSN: 2393-3356 | Journal ISSN: 2069-6523
Language: English
Page range: 111 - 114
Submitted on: Mar 30, 2025
Accepted on: May 2, 2025
Published on: Aug 12, 2025
Published by: Romanian Rhinologic Society
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Publication frequency: 4 issues per year

© 2025 Ashraf Al-kalbani, Gabriela Musat, published by Romanian Rhinologic Society
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.