Bulgarian Journal of Veterinary Medicine (2007), 10, No 1, 53−57 VOMERONASAL ORGAN IN DOMESTIC ANIMALS (A SHORT SURVEY)

organ, situated in the nasal cavity of mammals, that was not known until then (Jacobson, 1809). On the basis of thor-ough observations, the author described the glands, the double innervation and the blood supply at this locus (Jacobson, 1813). The vomeronasal organ (VNO) is an anatomical formation, with unique struc-ture and function. It is located below the nasal mucous coat, ventrolaterally to the nasal septum. Since 1813 and by now, it has been the subject of numerous investi-gations, but still, the information about it is not enough. In human medicine, some authors disagree with its functioning, be-cause in men, it is rudimentary. It is ac-cepted that in animals, VNO participates in the social and sexual communication as a chemosensory organ. The importance of these facts for animal behaviour as well as for animal reproduction was the reason to perform a short description of its topog-raphical location, structure and species-related features in various domestic ani-mals and man with regard to future, more detailed breed-associated studies within the frame of certain animals species. MORPHOGENESIS VNO or Jacobson’s organ, is a paired formation (complex) representing an “epithelial pocket ” that lies on both sides of the base of the nasal septum. Its peak development occurs during the foetal pe-riod and at a considerably lesser extent after birth (Powers & Winans, 1975