Author:DR.R.Menaka
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Tongue is a muscular organ which is covered by a mucosa.
A. Tunica Mucosa:
i. Epithelium - Stratified squamous epithelium - keratinized. Mucosa -bears lingual papillae
Lingual papillae classified on their morphological characters.
Either mechanical o gustatory function.
a. Mechanical Papillae: - Which is responsible for the movement of ingesta within the oral cavity.
e.g.
Filliform papillae
Conical papillae
Lenticular papillae
b. Gustatory Papillae:- Which contain taste buds which are responsible for mediation of the sense of taste.
e.g.
Fungiform papillae
Valate Papillae
Foliate papillae
Filliform papillae- are numerous in numbers.
Conical Papillae - Found on the root of the tongue in dogs, cats and pigs and on the torsus liguae of ruminants.
Lenticular Papillae - Found on the torsus linguae of ruminants. This papillae are flattened, lens shaped.
Fungiform Papillae- have a dome -shaped upper surface in horse and pigs. One or more taste buds on the upper surface.
Vallate Papillae- Located on the dorsum and just rostral to the root of the tongue. The taste buds are found on the papillary side of the sulcus. Group of serous gustatory glands are present in the deep sulcus line.
Foliate Papillae - Taste buds are located in the epithelium on the sides of the folds. The folds are separated by gustatory sulci.
Note: In cats - no taste buds in foliate papillae and in ruminants - foliate papillae is absent.
ii. Lamina propria- lingual glands are found. Numerous capillaries -arterio-venous anastomoses and branches of lingual artery and vein. They participate in thermoregulation.
Tastebuds:- These are found in the epithelium of the fungiform, vallate and foliate papillae of the tongue. They are also found widely separated in soft palate, the epiglottis and in the free edge of the vocal folds.