chemosensory organ

A chemosensory organ is an anatomical structure specialized for detecting chemical substances in the environment. These organs contain chemoreceptor cells that convert chemical signals into neural impulses, enabling sensations such as smell and taste.

In vertebrates, primary chemosensory organs include the nose (olfaction), the taste buds on the tongue and palate (gustation), and the vomeronasal organ (Jacobson's organ) which detects pheromones in many species.

Chemosensory organs contain specialized receptor neurons that synapse with cranial nerves — the olfactory nerve (CN I) for smell and the facial, glossopharyngeal, and vagus nerves for taste — transmitting chemical information to the brain.