Scanning electron microscopic studies of the surface of the dorsal tongue of the cat.

Abstract

In order to examine the fine structure of the lingual dorsal surface of the cat, scanning electron microscopy was performed, after removal of extracellular attached material from the lingual surface by acid hydrolysis. In the cat, filiform papillae were found to be distributed over the entire dorsal surface of the tongue. On the anterior part of the lingual body, some conical twigs encircled the baso-frontal circular slope of each filiform papilla from the back, in a semicircular manner. Of these conical twigs, the central twig were longer and larger than the others. Towards the middle area of the lingual body, the central twigs became gradually larger and the other twigs became smaller. On the posterior area of the lingual body, the twigs adjacent and beyond the central one disappeared. Distinct microridges were distributed on the baso-frontal surfaces of the filiform papillae and in the interpapillary area. However, microridges were barely recognizable on the twigs of the filiform papillae.