A classification schema for the vomeronasal organ in humans

The vomeronasal organ is a chemoreceptive structure located at the base of the nasal septum with direct axonal connections to the accessory olfactory bulb in many terrestrial vertebrates. Pheromones presumably bind to the vom eronasal organ and exert behavioral or physiologic responses, thereby allow ing chemical communication between animals of the same species. The presenc e and function of the vomeronasal organ in humans is debated. A phenotypic classification schema for the human vomeronasal organ is described and appl ied to 253 human subjects who underwent nasal examination. Of these subject s, only 6 percent possessed a vomeronasal organ with 64 percent unilateral and 36 percent bilateral in appearance. No difference existed in gender, ag e, or race between those subjects with or without a vomeronasal organ. Ther e is no evidence supporting involutional senescence of this structure. Futu re investigations should use this phenotypic schema for the vomeronasal org an to allow accurate comparisons of study populations.