Pheromones are chemical substances produced and released into the environment by an animal, affecting the behavior or physiology of others of its species. They play a crucial role in communication, particularly in mating, territory marking, and social organization.
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Pheromones can be detected through specialized sensory organs such as the vomeronasal organ (VNO) in many animals.
There are different types of pheromones including sex pheromones, alarm pheromones, and trail pheromones.
Pheromones are found in various secretions like sweat, urine, or saliva.
Humans produce pheromone-like substances that can influence menstrual cycles and perceived attractiveness.
The mechanism of action for pheromones often involves binding to specific receptors that trigger a signal transduction pathway leading to behavioral changes.
Review Questions
What specialized sensory organ is involved in detecting pheromones?
List three types of pheromones and their primary functions.
How do pheromones affect human interactions?
Related terms
Olfactory Receptor: Sensory receptor cells located in the nasal cavity responsible for detecting odor molecules.
Vomeronasal Organ (VNO): A chemoreceptor organ believed to be involved in detecting pheromones.
Signal Transduction Pathway: A series of molecular events initiated by receptor-ligand binding leading to a cellular response.