Anatomical and neurohistological studies on the tongue of the Indian buffalo (Bubalus bubalis).

In the Indian buffalo (Bubalus bubalis), the gross anatomical and neurohistological aspects of the tongue, its tunics and various lingual papillae have been studied. The observations indicate that the widest part of the tongue is also the thickest. The papillae encountered therein include filiform (four sub-types), fungiform and circumvallate papillae. Simple branched tubulo-acinar serous glands are located in the lamina propria of the circumvallate papillae. The mucous glands are limited to the root of the tongue. The nerve endings such as the muscle spindle, ovoid or elliptical and motor end-plates are found to be associated with the skeletal muscle. In the lingual epithelium, only simple free nerve endings are seen. In the taste buds, the intragemmal fibres end in close proximity of the gustatory cells.