Atlas of Feline Anatomy For Veterinarians by Hudson Lola C. Hamilton William P

Author:Hudson, Lola C.,Hamilton, William P.
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: CRC Press LLC
Published: 2017-03-19T16:00:00+00:00

Tongue

When the mouth is closed, the tongue occupies most of the space within the oral cavity. Although not used for food prehension, the highly mobile apex of the tongue functions in licking, grooming, and serves as a ladle to lap liquids into the floor of the oral cavity when drinking.

The dorsum of the tongue is characterized by highly cornified, caudally directed filiform papillae, which function as a stiff brush for grooming. The carpet of filiform papillae on the rostral two thirds of the dorsum of the tongue is dotted by the small, circular fungiform papillae. Fungiform papillae are concentrated near the edges of the tongue and have large taste buds associated with them.

General sensory innervation to the rostral two thirds of the tongue is via the lingual n. (from mandibular n. of cranial nerve V), while the taste buds associated with the fungiform papillae receive special sensory innervation from cranial nerve VII.

The body and root of the tongue are less mobile than the apical part. These parts function in bolus formation by pressing food against the hard palate, and in propelling the bolus through the pharynx during swallowing. At the junction of body and root, and arranged in a caudally pointed V pattern are four to six vallate papillae. Diffuse areas and solitary nodules of lymphoid tissue are present on the root of the tongue forming the lingual tonsil. General and special sensory innervation to the caudal third of the tongue is provided via the glossopharyngeal n. (cranial nerve IX).

The bulk of the tongue consists of intrinsic skeletal muscle bundles, mixed with connective and adipose tissue. The intrinsic muscles and several important extrinsic muscles (e.g, genio- glossus, styloglossus, and hyoglossus) are bilaterally symmetrical, and are divided by a thin septum. Each half of the tongue receives motor innervation via the hypoglossal n. (cranial nerve XII) of that side. The tongue is a richly vascular organ and will bleed profusely when lacerated. Cats subjected to heat stress can dissipate excessive body heat from the tongue by panting. The principal blood supply to each half of the tongue is via the lingual a. and v. While under general anesthesia, the lingual a. can be used to take the pulse.

Lacerations of the tongue, neoplasia, chemical and electrical burns, foreign-body penetration, and string foreign-body strangulation are some of the conditions affecting the mouth of the cat. Stomatitis and/or glossitis can also be manifestations of various systemic diseases including ulcerations related to feline rhinotra- cheitis virus and calicivirus infections, uremia, and immune system abnormalities.

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