How does Jacobson’s organ help snakes detect chemicals?

The Jacobson’s organ, also known as the vomeronasal organ, is a specialized chemoreceptor located on the roof of a snake's mouth that allows it to "smell" its environment. Because this organ is isolated from the nasal cavity in snakes, it relies entirely on the tongue to transport chemical particles.123

The process functions as follows:

• Collection: As a snake flicks its tongue, it captures scent particles from the air or ground. The forked tips of the tongue sample these particles from different points, providing the snake with a directional, "stereo" sense of smell.2
• Transport: The snake retracts its tongue into its mouth, where the captured odor molecules are deposited. While the exact mechanism of transfer remains a subject of study, it is believed that particles are either transferred directly to the organ's openings or mixed with oral fluids and pushed into the vomeronasal openings via hydraulic pressure from the tongue's movements.213
• Detection: Once the particles reach the organ, they bind to and stimulate receptor molecules. This generates sensory messages that are transmitted to the brain, allowing the snake to track prey, identify mates, and detect predators or territorial threats.21