title: [The existence vomeronasal organ in adult humans].
abstract: The influence of chemical substances (feromones) on human emotional and physical condition has fascinated psychologists, sexuologists and laryngologists since centurie. Literature conveys inconsistent information on vomeronasal organ (VNO) occurrence in humans. This organ is often called Jacobson's, and 2 symmetrical openings leading into it, located on both sides of septum, are called Ruyasch's ducts. The aim of the study was to analyze vomeronasal organ occurrence in humans in relation to age and sex. The study was conducted in a group of 634 patients, aged 18-80 years. All patients underwent routine ENT examination including rhinoscopy, nasal cavity examination with usage of 2.5x magnification lens (surgical glasses) and surgical microscope with 10x magnification. All persons had nasal cavities examined endoscopically. Every time presence of vomeronasal organ openings, along with localization, size and symmetry of these was noted. Subjects, who presented Jacobson's organ, were asked to fill a questionnaire concerning influence of smells on erotic sensations. Vomeronasal organ was fund in 312 persons, that is 49.21%. In 83.65% of cases vomeronasal organ opening size was smaller than 0.2 mm, what restricted its visibility to usage of magnifying lens, microscope, or endoscope. In 16.34% of cases only vomeronasal organ ducts openings were well visible in routine rhinoscopy without magnification. Vomeronasal organ was found more often in men than women. VNO was significantly more rare in patients with nasal septal deviation. In these cases, vomeronasal organ was usually found unilaterally, in all the cases on the concave side of deviated nasal septum.
authors.affiliation: Klinika Otolaryngologii, Wojskowy Instytut Medyczny w Warszawie.
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rapiejko
authors.forename: Beata
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zielnik-Jurkiewicz
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wojdas
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ratajczak
authors.forename: Dariusz
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jurkiewicz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009300:Nasal Septum / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D019147:Vomeronasal Organ / Q000033:anatomy & histology*