Anatomy of the oropharynx and tongue of the African pied crow

An understanding of the anatomy of components of the digestive tract of the African pied crow would prove useful in relation to the medical, surgical and nutritional management of these birds, especially in captivity. The present study was designed to provide basic data on the morphology of the oropharynx and tongue of the African pied crow. Our results showed that the roof of the oropharyngeal cavity was formed by a cartilaginous hard palate, whose mucous membrane exhibited many caudally directed papillae. The tongue was located in the floor of the oropharyngeal cavity. The rostral and caudal parts of the tongue were demarcated by a transverse row of caudally pointed papillae. The histology of the caudal part of the tongue revealed the presence of many mucous glands that discharge their secretions onto the dorsal surface of the tongue via ducts. Whereas the papillae may serve principally as mechanical obstacles to the involuntary return of food that has passed over them, the secretions of the glands may aid in swallowing by lubricating the caudal part of the oropharyngeal cavity and probably, the initial part of the oesophagus. It was concluded that the anatomical features of the oropharyngeal cavity and tongue of the African pied crow may be adaptations to the bird's mode of food acquisition and feeding habits. Key words: oropharyngeal cavity, tongue, papillae, mucous glands, African pied crow, Corvus albus Proucavanje anatomije probavnoga sustava africke crnobijele vrane potrebno je radi njezina lijecenja, pravilnoga nacina hranidbe i kirurskih zahvata sto je od posebnoga znacenja kad se ona drzi u zatocenistvu. Ovo istrazivanje provedeno je u svrhu prikupljanja temeljnih podataka o morfologiji orofarinksa i jezika africke crnobijele vrane. Poluceni rezultati pokazali da je krov njezine orofaringealne supljine gracen od tvrdoga hrskavicnoga nepca na cijoj se sluznici nalazi mnostvo kaudalno usmjerenih papila. Jezik je smjesten na dnu orofaringealne supljine. Rostralni i kaudalni dijelovi jezika odijeljeni su poprjecnim redom kaudalno usmjerenih papila. U kaudalnom dijelu jezika nalazi se mnostvo sluznih zlijezda koje svoje sekrete izlucuju na dorzalnu povrsinu jezika putem kanalica. Dok papile prvenstveno sluze kao mehanicka prepreka za povratak hrane, lucevine zlijezda mogu pomoci pri gutanju podmazivanjem kaudalnoga dijela orofaringealne supljine, i, vjerojatno, pocetnoga dijela jednjaka. Moze se zakljuciti da je anatomska graca orofaringealne supljin