VOMER
TABLE OF CONTENTS
VOMER AR ATLAS
AR Figure 70 – Vomer: Disarticulated view, Augmented Illustration by B. Leahu – MD. This image is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0).
The vomer is a slender, unpaired bone situated in the midsagittal plane of the skull, forming the inferior portion of the nasal septum. It plays a crucial role in separating the left and right nasal passages, contributing to the nasal cavity's structure and function. The vomer several bones, including: The sphenoid bone, The two maxillae, The palatine bones, The ethmoid bone.
AR Figure 71 – Vomer, Augmented Illustration by B. Leahu – MD. This image is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0).
Its superior border features two wing-like projections called the alae of the vomer, which extend laterally on either side. These alae the sphenoid bone via the vaginal processes of the medial pterygoid plates and with the palatine bones through the sphenoidal processes, anchoring the vomer securely within the skull. Along the surface of the vomer runs the vomerine groove, an oblique indentation that accommodates blood vessels and nerves supplying the nasal septum. The posterior border of the vomer forms the vomerine crest of choana, contributing to the structure of the choanae—the openings between the nasal cavity and the nasopharynx. At the anterior aspect, the cuneiform part of the vomer presents a wedge-shaped portion that connects with the perpendicular plate of the ethmoid bone and the septal cartilage, completing the nasal septum. This configuration ensures proper separation of the nasal passages, which is essential for efficient airflow and olfaction.
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