Mammalian chemosensory epithelia

The oral and nasal cavities of mammals contain
three distinct chemosensory epithelia: (i) the
main olfactory epithelium (MOE) containing
sensory cells with odorant receptors in the nose
(see previous page), (ii) the taste sensory
epithelium of the taste buds of the tongue, soft
palate, and epiglottis, and (iii) the vomeronasal
organ (VOM, also called Jacobson’s organ), a
tubular structure in the nasal septum containing
sensory cells with pheromone receptors.
The main olfactory bulb (MOB) relays signals
from the MOE to the olfactory cortex of the
brain. The accessory olfactory bulb (AOB) relays
signals from the VOM to areas of the amygdala
and hypothalamus.