Observations on the structure of the subepithelial nerve plexus in the tongue.

The intrinsic innervation of the anterior two thirds of the tongue in adult dogs of both sexes was studied in paraffin sections stained with Bodian, Holmes, cholinesterase and other stains. In all the sections, a subepithelial plexus of nerve fibres and cells was always seen on the dorsum of the tongue. Nerve endings were seen extending in between the epithelial cells on the dorsum of the tongue. The nerve cells were usually spindle-shaped and collected to form numerous ganglia in the submucosa. There were other ganglia in the tongue whose structure was very much similar to terminal autonomic ganglia. The significance of the ganglia consisting of biopolar nerve cells is being discussed.