Anatomic study and distribution of the Vallate papillae in domestic cats

Authors

  • Gregório Corrêa Guimarães Universidade Estadual Paulista, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias, Jaboticabal, SP
  • Márcia Rita Fernandes Machado Universidade Estadual Paulista, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias, Jaboticabal, SP
  • André Luiz Quagliatto Santos Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Uberlândia, MG
  • Maria Angélica Miglino Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, São Paulo, SP

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.11606/issn.1678-4456.bjvras.2007.26594

Keywords:

Tongue, Vallate papillae, Gustatory papillae

Abstract

The tongue of domestic animals varies in size and shape and according to these animals feeding habits, there are different degrees of tongue surface specialization. At the dorsal surface of the tongue lingual papillae can be observed, such as the vallate papillae, related to taste perception. With the help of a magnifying glass, differences in the number, size and distribution of vallate papillae were studied. Fifty five tongues of adult domestic cats from both sexes (38 females and 17 males) were analyzed. The samples were fixed in 10% buffered formalin. The vallate papillae were found to be symmetrically distributed on 21 tongues (38.18%). However, it was observed that in some of the tongues the number of vallate papillae varied when one side of the tongue was compared to its contralateral side. The vallate papillae showed different shapes: elongated (42.58%), oval (31.61%), round (25.48%) and pear shaped (0.33%). The vallate papillae were classified into 10 different categories: symmetrical I (2 right and 2 left), II (3:3), III (4:4) and asymmetrical IV (3:2), V (4:2), VI (2:3), VII (4:3), VIII (5:3), IX (3:4) and X (4:5). Measurements of length and width were made with averages of 0.84 ± 0.23 mm and 0.55 ± 0.18 mm, respectively, besides the calculation of the total area of these papillae per tongue, that showed average of 2,74 ± 0,31 mm² in males and 1,94 ± 0,14 mm² in females However, upon examining the lingual papillae of the cat tongues, specimens demonstrating 7, 8 or 9 vallate papillae, arranged in pairs (4:3, 5:3, 3:4 and 4:5) by category, were observed in this study but not cited in the literature.

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Published

2007-12-03

Issue

Section

UNDEFINIED

How to Cite

Anatomic study and distribution of the Vallate papillae in domestic cats. (2007). Brazilian Journal of Veterinary Research and Animal Science, 44(supl.), 81-87. https://doi.org/10.11606/issn.1678-4456.bjvras.2007.26594