A histological study on the tongue of Japanese quail (coturnix coturnix japonica)‎

Abstract EN

Tongue specimens were obtained from twelve healthy adult male and female quail.

The organ was examined morphologically.

Specimens were processed for light microscopic examination.

The results revealed that, the tongue of quail was small in size, triangular in shape with pointed tip and carrying one transverse v-shaped row of thorn like papillae at the caudal dorsal surface.

The covering epithelium was formed of stratified squamous keratinized type at the dorsal and anterior ventral surfaces, while the most posterior dorsal and ventral surfaces were covered by stratified squamous non keratinized epithelium.

Clusters of large, pale polygonal cells were present at the deep angle of the dorsal spine like epithelial projection.

The only type of the lingual papillae bifurcated to form inferior cone shaped papillae and superior curved and pointed ones.

The papillary core was formed of irregular dense fibrous connective tissue which contained lingual glands and adipose tissue at its base.

The core of the tongue showed highly distributed compound tubulo-alveolar glands condensed at the tip and the caudal basal regions and formed one row under the epithelium of the dorsal surface.

The mid-lingual core was supported by long compact bone containing a central irregular cavity filled with bone marrow.

This bone extends from the root of the tongue through its long axis and attached by striated muscle bundles.

The muscles were aggregates at the base of the tongue.

This bony architecture with the lingual muscle arrangement were not reviewed in any of the available literature.

It was concluded that the tongue of quail has special structural features represented by compact bone, heavy muscular and glandular components.