Histological Structure of the Tongue in Birds at Light and Scanning Electron Microscopic Level: A Review Study
Subject Areas : Journal of Animal Biology
1 - Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahrekord University, Shahrekord, Iran
Keywords: Tongue, Birds, Light microscopy, Electron microscopy, Salivary glands,
Abstract :
The tongue in birds has many fundamental similarities with this organ in mammals and has three parts: tip, body, and root. Significant differences in the morphology of the tongue in birds may be caused by differences in the anatomical structure of the lower beak, type of diet, nutritional habits, lifestyle, environmental conditions, etc. The tongue and especially the tip of the organ can be seen in different forms in birds. In some species of birds, the median groove is found on the dorsal surface of the tongue. The papillary crest on the dorsal surface of the body consists of cone-like papillae, which show significant differences in different species from the point of view of distribution, number, appearance, manner of placement, and degree of evolution. The epithelium of the dorsal surface of the tongue in some birds shows differences in specific areas of the organ based on nutritional patterns, type of food, and animal's environment. In birds, taste buds are mainly found at the base of the tongue and on the floor or roof of the mouth. Salivary glands show obvious species differences and are generally much more developed in grain-eating birds. In prey birds, they have little development and in some birds, they are absent. Lingual salivary glands are found in alveolar, tubulo-alveolar, and tubular types and are of serous and seromucous type. In many birds, the lingual salivary glands are located in two anterior and posterior groups without any anatomical continuity, in some birds, the parin layer in the mucous membrane of the organ is filled with mucous glands whose pores open on the dorsal and ventral surfaces of the tongue. The way of distribution and the anatomical position of these glands in the connective tissue of the tongue show differences in different species of birds.
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