Vomer

Vomer

The Vomer is one of the many bones that make up the human skull. It is a thin, flat bone that forms part of the nasal septum, which separates the left and right nostrils. The vomer is located in the midsagittal plane, and it articulates with several other bones in the skull.

Structure

The vomer is a single bone that is roughly trapezoidal in shape. It has two surfaces and four borders. The surfaces are marked by small furrows for blood vessels, and on either side of the vomer, there is a groove that contributes to the choanae.

The superior border of the vomer articulates with the sphenoid bone and the ethmoid bone. The inferior border articulates with the palatine bone and the maxilla. The anterior border articulates with the cartilage of the septum, and the posterior border articulates with the sphenoid bone.

Development

The vomer develops from the mesenchyme of the nasal capsule. It is initially formed as a pair of bones, but these fuse in the midline to form a single bone by the time of birth.

Clinical significance

The vomer can be involved in a number of medical conditions. For example, a deviated septum can occur if the vomer is not straight, leading to problems with breathing and sinusitis. The vomer can also be affected by cancer, particularly nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

See also

• Human skull
• Nasal septum
• Sphenoid bone
• Ethmoid bone
• Palatine bone
• Maxilla
• Cartilage
• Mesenchyme
• Choanae
• Deviated septum
• Sinusitis
• Nasopharyngeal carcinoma

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