title: Tongue structure and function in Oplurus cuvieri (Reptilia: Iguanidae).
abstract: The anatomy of the hyo-lingual apparatus in the iguanid lizard Oplurus cuvieri has been studied by light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Four areas were observed on the dorsal lingual epithelium of the lizard. Tongue tips are covered with a smooth epithelium. Closely packed flattened and cylindriform papillae cover the foretongue. The surface of the midtongue bears an unpapillose epithelium. Short conical papillae are arranged on the two lateral posterior bundles of the tongue. At high magnification, microvilli and microridges are widely distributed over the surface of the papillae. The epithelium of the papillae is composed of cells filled with secretory granules. Each surface plays successive roles during food ingestion, intra-buccal transport, and swallowing. The mucous interpapillary spaces would serve the adherence between the tongue and the food, the smooth epithelium of the midtongue should facilitate movements of the prey toward the pharynx, and conical papillae of the hindtongue present a rough surface which should act on the prey during the swallowing phase. The intrinsic morphology of the tongue is rather similar to that previously described for iguanids, but fibers of M. verticalis encircles ventrally the lingual process. These fibers could act in tongue protrusion as previously suggested for agamids. The morphology and function of the extrinsic tongue musculature and the hyoid musculature, analysed by electrical stimulations, are similar to the previous descriptions in iguanids and agamids either for feeding or displaying functions.
authors.affiliation: University of Liège, Laboratory of Functional Morphology, Belgium.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Delheusy
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Toubeau
authors.forename: V L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Bels
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D007076:Iguanas / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D009132:Muscles / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D014059:Tongue / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure