Scanning Electron Microscopy of the Lingual Dorsal Surface of the Beagle Dog

Abstract

n order to examine the fine structure of the lingual dorsal surface of the beagle dog, scanning electron microscopy was performed after removing the extracellular attached substance from the lingual surface by acid hydrolysis.In this species, filiform papillae were found to be closely distributed over the entire dorsal surface of the tongue. On the apical surface, some conical twigs encircled the baso-frontal dome-shaped bulge from the back, semicircularly. Towards the middle area of the body, the bulge of the filiform papillae became gradually smaller and flatter. Only the central twig became gradually larger and the other twigs became smaller. Fungiform papillae were scattered among these filiform papillae.Clear microridges were distributed on the baso-frontal area of the filiform papilla and the interpapillar epithelial surface. However, microridges were barely recognized on the twigs of the filiform papilla.