Jacobson's organ

Definition

Jacobson's organ, also known as the vomeronasal organ, is a chemoreceptor organ involved in the detection of pheromones and other chemical signals. It plays a critical role in various behaviors such as mating, territory marking, and prey detection.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Jacobson's organ is present in many vertebrates, including reptiles, amphibians, and mammals.
2. In reptiles like snakes and lizards, Jacobson's organ is essential for detecting chemical cues from their environment.
3. The sensory cells of Jacobson's organ are specialized to detect specific types of molecules such as pheromones.
4. Jacobson's organ connects to the accessory olfactory bulb in the brain, which processes these chemical signals.
5. Not all animals have a functional Jacobson's organ; some species have lost this structure through evolution.

Review Questions

• What is the primary function of Jacobson's organ?
• Which types of animals typically possess Jacobson's organ?
• How does Jacobson’s organ contribute to a reptile’s ability to detect prey?

Related terms

Olfactory Bulb: The part of the brain responsible for processing smell information from olfactory receptors.

Pheromones: Chemical substances released by animals that influence the behavior or physiology of others of the same species.

Chemoreception: The physiological response to chemical stimuli detected by sensory cells.