vomer

The vomer is a small, slender, unpaired bone of the facial skeleton that forms part of the nasal septum. It lies in the midline of the nasal cavity, posterior to the septal cartilage, and constitutes the inferior and posterior portion of the septum, with the perpendicular plate of the ethmoid forming the superior portion.

Anatomy and articulations: The bone is plow-shaped, with a narrow superior border and thicker inferior border. It articulates with the sphenoid, the perpendicular plate of the ethmoid, and with the maxilla and palatine bones along its margins. The anterior portion of the nasal septum is formed by septal cartilage, whereas the vomer provides the posterior and inferior component of the septum.

Development: The vomer ossifies from two or more primary centres that typically fuse along the midline during fetal development or early childhood; in some individuals a single bone forms. It has no muscular attachments.

Clinical significance: The vomer contributes to the integrity of the nasal septum. Fractures related to facial trauma can involve the vomer and may affect septal alignment and nasal airflow. Deviations of the vomeral portion of the septum can contribute to nasal obstruction. Imaging, particularly computed tomography, helps evaluate septal anatomy and potential fractures.

Etymology: The name vomer derives from Latin vomere, meaning plow, reflecting its shape.