Morphological and Morphometrical Study of the Tongue with Microscopic structure of Lyssa in Local Adult Dogs (Canis familiaris)

Abstract

The current study aimed to investigate the morphological and morphometrical features of the tongue of local adult dogs (Canis familiaris). Five heads of clinically healthy dogs were collected and used in this study in laboratory of Department of Anatomy and Histology in Veterinary Medicine College/University of Baghdad. The current study showed that the tongue was fixed through the extrinsic muscles which include styloglossus, hyoglossus, genioglossus and by four mucous membrane folds; two palatoglossal, single glossoepiglottic and frenulum linguae. A gross morphological feature of tongue revealed it consists of three parts apex, body and root. Their length, width and thickness were recorded and listed in table. The dorsal lingual surface appeared rough by presence of different types lingual papillae including; circum vallate, conical, foliate, filiform and fungiform. Gross parameters of lyssa including weight, length and width were listed. Current study showed the dog lyssa appeared" pinkish white "color structure forever the median plane of ventral surface with more or less rod shape. Histologically, lyssa made up entirely of adipose tissue enveloped by collagen fibers in the cranial and caudal ends, while it formed of striated muscle bundles lies dorsally to the adipose tissue in the middle part of it.