Comparison of the Histological Structure of Tongue of a Carnivore, Cat and Some Other Vertebrates in Relation to Their Feeding Habits.

Chapter One of Comparison of the Histological Structure of Tongue of a Carnivore, Cat and Some Other Vertebrates in Relation to Their Feeding Habits.

INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND OF STUDY

The detailed structural studies on different organ system of domestic animals are giving important in contemporary biological science. These have implication on conservation and propagation and also form data base of scientific information.The present study describe the comparative histological study and of a carnivorous cat.

The cat is taxonomically in the kingdom animal, phylum chordate, class mammalian, order carnivore, family viverridae.

The cat is a smaller animal whose length is 3ft and has a tail size of 1ft. it weighs from 6-8ib.

The general colourare brownish or olive grey to light grey. They are longitudinal dark stripes and rows of spots along the body. Its main diet is rats, lizards, small birds, insects, fruits and berries.

The comparative histology of the study of the tongue would show the micro-anatomical and structural variation that appeared to represent adaptations to their various feeding pattern.The cat tongue has sharp spines,or papillae, useful for retaining and ripping flesh from a carcass. These papillae are small backward facing hooks that contains keratin whichalso assist in there groom. The cat papillae contain tiny holes or pores that lead to tastes bud consist of muscles. The bulk of the tongue consists of muscles bundles mixed with connective (strong/ tough) and adipose (fat) tissues. It has many blood vessels and bleed profusely when lacerated. The tongue is surrounded by the openings of the duct of the salivary glands, which pores there secretion (saliva) into the oral cavity.

The tongue (lingua) occupies the ventral aspect of the oral cavity and oropharynx. It is involved with grooming, lapping, prehension and manipulating food in the oral cavity. It is also involved in the deglutition reflex and vocalisation. The tongue is capable of vigorous and precise movements due to the apex being free of attachments to the oral cavity.
The shape and structure of the tongue differ significantly among animal species, reflecting the various functions of each respective tongue (Iwasaki, 2002; Santos et al., 2011). In the anatomy of the tongue, three parts may be distinguished: the apex, the body and the root (Jackowiak and Godynicki, 2005; Dehkordiet al., 2010). On the surface of tongue, there are various kinds of lingual papillaeseach having different morphological structure and shape. Distribution of these lingual papillae has been considered to be related to species eating habits and vocalization (Fawcett, 1986; Park et al., 2009). All the papillae are covered by stratified squamous epithelium that differs by the thickness and keratinization only (Iwasaki and Miyata, 1985; Wassif, 2001).

Notably, the tongue of carnivorous animals have filiform, fungiform and Valliate but lacks foliate papillae(Chamorro, De Paz, Sandoval et al., 1986);Kobayashi, Kamakura and Takahashi, 1995;Qayyum and Beg, 1975).

FEEDING MECHANISM

The feeding mechanism is clearly an important factor that determines the success of adaptation of vertebrates to their environment and of their persistence through procreation (Roth & Wake, 1989). In feeding, the tongue plays a principal role, together with other organs within and near the oral cavity, in particular in cat. The tongue has a characteristic form in cat. Cat have a slight elevation of the mucosa on the floor of the mouth this structure contain voluntary muscles.

According to Roth and Wake, (1989), Darwish, (2012), the tongue is often considered a key innovation in the evolution of a terrestrial lifestyle as it allows animals to transport food particles through the oral cavity. Also, there are fairly strong correlations between tongue anatomy and its functional roles (e.g., food transport and manipulation), and the environmental conditions in which animals use their tongues.

The tongue consists largely of skeletal muscle, partly invested by mucosa. The lingual mucosa of the inferior surface is then, smooth and like that in much of the rest of the oral cavity. The mucosa of the pharyngeal part of the dorsum contains many lymphoid follicles. In the oral part the dorsal mucosa is somewhat thicker ventrally and laterally, it is adherent to muscular tissue and covered by numerous papillae. It consists of connective tissue (Lamina propria) and stratified squamous epithelium. Which also covers each papilla, (Health et al., 1993).

The lamina propria is a dense fibrous connective tissue; with numerous elastic fibres, united to similar tissue which spreads between the lingual muscle fasciculi, it contains the ramifications of numerous vessels and nerves from which the papillae are supplied and also large lymph plexus and lingual glands. The epithelium varies from parakeratinized stratified s squamous epithelium posteriorly, to fully keratinized epithelium overlying the filiformpapiliae more anteriorly, these features appears to be related to the fact that the apex of the tongue is subject to greater dehydration than the posterior and ventral parts and is more abraded during mastication (Health et al., 1993).

STRUCTUREOF THE TONGUE A CARNIVOROUS CAT

The tongue is skeletal muscle dorsally and structural fat surrounded by a cartilaginous sheath forming lyssa (canids only) ventrally. It has an attached root and body with a free apex. The frenulum (fold of mucosa) attaches the body of the tongue to the floor of the oral cavity.The root of tongue is attached to the hyoid bone. In the horse and dog, the tongue is ‘u’ shaped, becoming broader towards the tip. The furrow in the centre of the canidtongue is called the median sulcus.

FUNCTIONS OF THE TONGUE OF A CARNIVOROUS CAT

The tongue is an important grooming tool for cat
The tongue helps reduce body temperature in cat
Its severs as ladle for lapping water and other liquids into the mouth during drinking
The taste bud of the tongue are important in detection and sense of taste
The tongue assist in chewing and swallowing of food
The tongue is used mainly for guiding food and water into the throat

RATIONALE OF STUDY

The comparative histological study has never been undertaken by any student in Delta State University, Abraka.

The topic is aimed to compare the histological and morphological structure of the tongue of the selected vertebrates.The fundamental reason of the study to be carried out is to compare the histological structure of tongues of carnivorous cat (Felixdomesica) and some other vertebrates in relation to their feeding habits.

SIGNIFICANT OF PROBLEM

Comparative gross anatomy have long been used to compare the structural relationship between animals groups. Details of the histological comparisons of tongue of various classes of vertebrate need to be examined as similarities and differences in the gross morphology of species may not totally explain species relatedness.

SIGNIFICANT OF STUDY

1 It helps provides data concerning the topics for further research

2 It helps relates the structure and feeding habits of cat and other vertebrates

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The general objective of this study is to compare the histological structure of tongue of a carnivore, cat and some other vertebrates in relation to their feeding habits.

The specific objective is to compare the histological feature and feeding habits of the vertebrae through experiment.

RESEARCH QUESTION

1 Is there a significant difference between feeding habits and structure of the tongue of cat some with other vertebrates?

2 What is the relationship between the feeding habit and structure of the tongue ofvertebrates?

LIMITATION OF THE STUDY/SCOPE

The scope of this research was to compare the tongue of four (4) different vertebrates (cat, rat, rabbit and lizard) in relation to their feeding habits. The study was limited to the tongue of the vertebrate selected and did not study any pathology of the tongue.

OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF TERMS

COMPARATIVE: This is the use of comparison as study method or founded on somethingusing it, (oxford dictionary).
HISTOLOGICAL: This is the study of microscopic structure, chemical comparison and function of tissues or system in animals. (Oxford dictionary)
VERTEBRATES: These are animals that have backbone. (oxford dictionary)
- TONGUE: This is a flexible muscular organ in the mouth that is used to move foodaround for tasting and that is moved into various positions to modify the flow of airfrom the lungs in order to produce different sounds in speech.Speaking, etc
- CAT: These is a small animal commonly kept as a house pet