Histomorphometrical study of the tongue epithelium of the peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus)

• Published in: Brazilian Journal of Biology
• Main Author: F. A. Al-Nefeiy
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Instituto Internacional de Ecologia 2021
• Subjects: falcon; tongue; epithelium; histomorphometry; feeding; Science; Q; Biology (General); QH301-705.5; Zoology; QL1-991; Botany; QK1-989; Falco peregrinus; peregrine falcon
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1590/1519-6984.244526; https://doaj.org/article/a3d6a83bf1d84f3e8b6c52ed3b5e2d0d

Abstract The aim of this study is to examine the dorsal lingual epithelium of the peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) of the family Falconidae. The tongue in its dorsal, lateral and ventral surfaces is covered with a non-keratinized multilayered stratified squamous epithelium. Lamina propria is present beneath the epithelial layers. Morphometrically, thickness of the apex tongue epithelium is more than that in the tongue body. Thickness of the ventral surface of the tongue is less than that in the dorsal one. Thickness of the lateral surface of the tongue was thicker than that in the ventral one and tongue body. Large and small conical papillae appeared on the posterior dorsal surface of the lingual body. There are lingual glands in certain areas of tongue body with numerous openings through the dorsal surface.