Morphogenesis of tongue in prenatal Surti goat (Capra hircus)

Abstract

The study was undertaken to determine the development of tongue at different stages of prenatal life in Surti goat. A total 41 apparently normal Surti goat fetuses were procured and categorized broadly into three groups: group-I comprising of Surti goat fetuses with CR length up to 10cm, group-II of fetuses with CR length between 10.1 to 20cm and Group-III of fetuses with CR length above 20cm. Morphological observations of the tongue were recorded in respect to location, shape, external surface, size, colour of tongue and number of circumvallate papillae. Tongue situated on the floor of the mouth cavity proper with three parts: apex, body and root. Torus linguae appear in the form of minute prominence at 7.4cm CR length and well defined in group-III. In front of torus linguae, a crescent depression, fossa linguae was conspicuous from 26.7cm CR length. The mucous membrane of the dorsal surface bears different types of lingual papillae (Filiform, Conical, Lenticular, Fungiform and Circumvallate). Lateral borders in group-I were smooth and sharp, with progression of age in group-III they were scattered with filiform and fungiform papillae in apex and rostral part of body, whereas circumvallate papillae were present on the caudo-lateral aspect of the body.