Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsAnatomy and LocationFunctionConditionsTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Anatomy and Location
Function
Conditions
Treatment
The vomer bone is a thin, unpaired bone located in the center of the nasal cavity. This small, trapezoidal bone is part of the nasal septum, the middle wall of the nasal respiratory cavity. It attaches to important bones of the skull and to the band of cartilage that helps shape the nose and face.
The smallest bone of the skull, the vomer is thin and flat. Viewed from the side, it is shaped like a trapezoid. Sitting perpendicular to the front of the face within the nasal cavity, it is arranged vertically in the skull.
The vomer is part of the nasal septum, which divides the respiratory cavity in half. It sits on the midline of theviscerocranium, the bones that make up the face.
While the two faces of the vomer make up the walls of the septum, its four borders articulate with (attach to) several important bones and structures of the skull and face. Here’s a quick breakdown:
Is the vomer the same as the nasal septum?The vomer is part of the nasal septum. The other parts of the bony septum include the perpendicular plate of the ethmoid bone and the maxilla bone.
Is the vomer the same as the nasal septum?
The vomer is part of the nasal septum. The other parts of the bony septum include the perpendicular plate of the ethmoid bone and the maxilla bone.
Anatomical Variations
As with other bones of the face and cranium, congenital abnormalities or deformations can impact the vomer. These include the following:
The vomer’s main job is to help support the structure of the nasal passages and face.Running as it does down the middle of the viscerocranium, this bone, along with a band of nasal cartilage, skin, and blood vessels, divides the nasal respiratory cavity in two.
Ensuring smooth passage of air through the respiratory cavity is not only an aspect of breathing, smelling, and tasting, it is also important for speech and articulation.
Associated Conditions
The conditions most often associated with the vomer include:
For many disorders of the sinus and vomer—especially deviated septum or cleft palate—surgery is the preferred treatment; however, it’s an option typically reserved after other means of managing these conditions haven’t worked out. These treatment options may be considered:
Summary
The vomer bone is a small, thin bone in the nasal cavity. It can be damaged when the nose is broken or fractured.
Certain health conditions like deviated septum and cleft palate can also affect the vomer bone. Rarely, tumors of the sinuses can also form on the vomer. Most conditions of the vomer are treated with surgery.
13 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Ren S, Ma L, Zhou X, Sun Z.Bony defect of palate and vomer in submucous cleft palate patients.Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2015;44(1):63-66. doi:10.1016/j.ijom.2014.09.001
Elsevier.Bones of viscerocranium.
Stanford Medicine Otolaryngology - Head & Neck surgery.Anatomy of the Sinuses.
Swain SK.Deviated nasal septum in children: A review.Int J Contemp Pediatr. 2022;9(3):308. doi:10.18203/2349-3291.ijcp20220462
Cellina M, Gibelli D, Cappella A, Martinenghi C, Belloni E, Oliva G.Nasal cavities and the nasal septum: Anatomical variants and assessment of features with computed tomography.Neuroradiol J. 2020;33(4):340-347. doi:10.1177/1971400920913763
Harvard Medical School.Deviated septum.
Juncar M, Tent PA, Juncar RI, Harangus A, Rivis M.Etiology, pattern, and treatment of nose fractures: A 10-year cross-sectional cohort retrospective study.Niger J Clin Pract. 2021;24(11):1674-1681. doi:10.4103/njcp.njcp_52_21
Mewar P, González-Torres KE, Jacks TM, Foss RD.Sinonasal myxoma: A distinct lesion of infants.Head Neck Pathol. 2020;14(1):212-219. doi:10.1007/s12105-018-0989-0
NYU Langone Health.Medication for deviated septum.
National Library of Medicine.Septoplasty.
National Library of Medicine.Cleft lip and palate repair.
Harvard Medical School.Broken nose (nasal fracture).
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
