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The vomeronasal organ – incidence in a Bulgarian population

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 February 2016

G Stoyanov ,
K Moneva ,
N Sapundzhiev  and
A B Tonchev
G Stoyanov*
Affiliation:
Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Medical University - Varna “Prof. Dr. Paraskev Stoyanov”, Varna, Bulgaria
K Moneva
Affiliation:
Division of Otorhinolaryngology, Department of Neurosurgery and ENT Diseases, Medical University - Varna “Prof. Dr. Paraskev Stoyanov”, Varna, Bulgaria
N Sapundzhiev
Affiliation:
Division of Otorhinolaryngology, Department of Neurosurgery and ENT Diseases, Medical University - Varna “Prof. Dr. Paraskev Stoyanov”, Varna, Bulgaria
A B Tonchev
Affiliation:
Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Medical University - Varna “Prof. Dr. Paraskev Stoyanov”, Varna, Bulgaria
*
Address for correspondence: Dr George Stoyanov, Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Medical University - Varna “Prof. Dr. Paraskev Stoyanov”, Varna, Bulgaria E-mail: georgi.geesh@gmail.com
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Abstract

Background:

The vomeronasal organ is an accessory olfactory organ found in vertebrates that specialises in the chemoreception of pheromones. This study aimed to explore the existence and occurrence of the vomeronasal organ in adult humans.

Methods:

A total of 966 consecutive video recordings of out-patient nasopharyngolaryngoscopies performed at the St Marina University Hospital, Varna, Bulgaria, were retrospectively reviewed.

Results:

Data analysis showed that from the evaluable cases, the organ was evident on the left side of the nasal septum in 14.93 per cent, on the right side in 21.15 per cent and bilaterally in 2.35 per cent of cases. The vomeronasal organ was present in a total of 26.83 per cent of the investigated subjects.

Conclusion:

More research should be focused on revealing the incidence and functionality of the organ, and on its preservation in surgical manipulations that affect the nasal septum and other nearby structures.

Keywords

Vomeronasal OrganOlfactionAnatomyEndoscopyRetrospective StudyReview
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 130 , Issue 4 , April 2016 , pp. 344 - 347
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2016 

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Footnotes

Presented (in part) orally at the Black Sea Symposium for Young Scientists in Biomedicine, 27–30 March 2014, Varna, Bulgaria.

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