Tongue and lingual salivary glands of the canary: scanning electron microscopy and histochemical study

In this study, morphological characteristics of the canary tongue were examined macroscopically and histologically besides using scanning electron microscopy. Furthermore, histochemical features of the lingual salivary glands of the canary were also examined. The results suggest that the tongue of the canary has an equilateral quadrangle shape is sloped towards the apex on its dorsal surface; where its sides are bounded by tall epithelial extensions. Additionally, histological examination showed that salivary glands were only present on the body of the tongue and there were no taste buds. However, the tongue has mechanical sensory cell groups in its subepithelial connective tissue. Histochemical examination, demonstrated that the salivary gland epithelial cells contained carbohydrates which were composed of acidic sialo-mucins. (Folia Morphol 2017; 76, 3: 348–354)