AGE RELATED SCANNING ELECTRON-MICROSCOPIC STUDIES ON TONGUE AND ANTERIOR LARYNX OF THE BROILER CHICKS

The aim of present study was to investigate the scanning electron microscopic structure of the tongue and anterior larynx of thirty Cubb broiler chicks of one week to one month (7-32 days) age. The tongue was triangular in shape having an apex, a body, and a root. The dorsal surface of the apex and body was having a large number of filiform-like papillae whereas; the root was smooth devoid of papillae. A papillary crest and a transverse row of caudal lingual papillae were present at the junction of the body and the root. The papillae at higher magnification presented microplicae of varying patterns. Gustatory papillae or taste buds were not observed in any portion of the tongue. The anterior larynx was having centrally placed laryngeal cleft, laryngeal mound on both sides, 4 rows of medial papillae, a transverse row of pharyngeal papillae, and a row of giant papillae. The floor of the laryngeal cleft presented a meshwork like structure along with some ciliated cells and openings of glandular ducts. The dorsal surface of the different structures of the larynx showed epithelial cells having varying patterns of microplicae. A few structural differences were observed in the tongue and the anterior larynx of birds of different age groups.