Organ system: The cranial nerves
Functions
Sensory
- Pheremone sensation during kissing or physical closeness
- Encouraging pair bonding between compatible healthy mates
Notes
- The existence of this cranial nerve is undisputed in various non-human species. In humans it is not universally recognised and it is poorly understood.
- It is possible that this structure is non-functional and vestigial. This could have atrophied alongside the olfactory system during human evolution. It could have been made redundant by the development of high intelligence and complex social behaviours.
- One reason for the lack of consesus is the difficulty in preserving and identifying this small structure during dissection.
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