Histomorphological and scanning electron microscopic studies on tongue of Emu (Dromaius Novaehollandiae)

The present research was conducted on the tongue of eight dead emu birds (both male and female) collected from poultry farm of GADVASU, Ludhiana to investigate its histological and scanning electron microscopic details. The tissue pieces of tongue were processed for light and scanning electron microscopic studies. The lingual surfaces were lined by stratified squamous non keratinized epithelium. Tongue consisted of connective tissue, mucus glands, blood vessels, Herbst corpuscles, lingual skeleton and striated muscles. SEM indicated desquamating and non-desquamating epithelial cells along with microplicae were observed. Microvilli were very few. The area of papillae was devoid of any glandular openings.