Histological, and Histochemical Studies on the Tongue of Domestic Turkey (Meleagris Gallopavo)

The purpose of this study was to investigate the micromorphological features of the tongue of domestic turkey (Meleagris Gallopavo). The tongue was studied by means of histological and histochemical methods to elucidate its micromorphological features. Six adult male domestic turkeys were used in this study. Samples from the tip, body and root portions of the tongue were fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin. Stained sections with H&E revealed that the lingual mucosal lining is stratified squamous epithelium keratinized thicker in the dorsal surface than that of the ventral surface throughout the length of the tongue. The core of the tongue had a special lingual structure varied along the length of the tongue started at the apex as hyaline cartilage and changed in the body into fibrocartilage and continued caudally as spongy bone. By Alcian blue pH 2.5 the lingual salivary glands gave a strong reaction and appeared as clusters at the level of the body