Histology of Tongue

Tongue

• Type of organ

• Covered by

• Shape

• Function

• Epithelium

  • In which species keratinized

  • In which species non-keratinized

• All skeletal muscles arranged in

Type of organ: Muscular organ

Covered by: Mucosa

Shape: Spatula shape

Function:

• Prehension

• Mastication

• Deglutition

Epithelium: Stratified squamous

• In which species keratinized: Ruminants and horse

• In which species non-keratinized: Cats and dogs

All skeletal muscles arranged in:

• Cross-sectionally (helps flatten tongue)

• Longitudinally (helps shorten tongue)

• Transverse (helps narrow and elongate tongue)

What are the 3 types of lingual papillae present?

• Foliate (leaf shape) papillae

• Filiform papillae

• Circumvallate papillae

Foliate (leaf shape) Papillae

• Type of epithelium

• Lamina propria

• Taste buds?

• Well developed in which animals

• Absent in which animals

Epithelium: Nonkeratinized stratified squamous

Lamina propria: Forms connective tissue core within each fold

Taste buds: Present in walls of cleft

Well developed in: Horse and dogs

Absent in: Ruminants

Filiform Papillae

• Epithelium

• Lamina propria

• Taste buds?

• Numerous in which animals and why

Epithelium: Keratinized stratified squamous

Lamina propria: Narrow connective tissue core that supports slender projections

Taste buds: Absent because it has mechanical function

Numerous in: Ruminants and cats for drinking milk/water

Circumvallate Papillae

• Epithelium

• Lamina propria

• Taste buds?

• Characteristics

Epithelium: Nonkeratinized stratified squamous

Lamina propria: Forms connective tissue core

Taste buds: Numerous on the side walls

Characteristics:

• Have deep indentation

• Not numerous