Functional Morphology of Lingual Structures in Vertebrates

The tongue represents a versatile organ whose form and function reflect the ecological niches and feeding strategies of vertebrates. Across fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals, lingual structures range from simple muscular tubes to highly specialised apparatuses bearing diverse papillary types, glands and sensory elements. In many species, the tongue serves in prey capture, intra-oral transport and mastication; in others it functions primarily as a taste organ or a filter-feeding device. Structural variations include differences in the arrangement of intrinsic and extrinsic muscle fibres, the composition of the hyoglossal skeleton, the distribution of keratinised versus non­keratinised epithelia and the presence of unique support structures such as the lyssa in carnivores. Glandular secretions within the lamina propria contribute mucus or serous fluids that facilitate lubrication, prey manipulation and microbial defence. Comparative studies reveal evolutionary pathways linking aquatic to terrestrial lifestyles, where modifications to the oropharyngeal cavity and tongue musculature parallel dietary shifts. Insights into the mechanical properties of connective tissue cores, the microarchitecture of taste buds and the integration of sensory and motor elements underpin advances in developmental biology, veterinary medicine and bioinspired material science. Understanding the functional morphology of lingual structures thus yields both fundamental evolutionary perspectives and practical applications in ecology, agriculture and biomedical engineering.

Research from Nature Portfolio

No recent Nature Portfolio content available.

Functional Morphology of Lingual Structures in Vertebrates publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in functional morphology of lingual structures in vertebrates across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Papillae: Epithelial projections on the tongue surface, classified as filiform (mechanical), fungiform (gustatory), foliate (gustatory grooves) or vallate (large circumvallate structures).

Lyssa: A fibrous, adipose‐rich cord of connective tissue in carnivores that reinforces the tongue during prey manipulation.

Hyoglossal skeleton: Cartilaginous or bony supports (e.g. basihyal, hypoglossum) anchoring intrinsic and extrinsic tongue muscles.

Lingual glands: Secretory units in the lamina propria producing mucous or serous fluids for lubrication and digestion.

Keratinised epithelium: Tough, stratified squamous layer with cytokeratin that protects against abrasion and supports filter‐feeding in aquatic feeders.

Intrinsic and extrinsic muscles: Muscle groups within (intrinsic) and attached to (extrinsic) the tongue, coordinating shape change and protrusion.

References

1. Comparative Study of Lingual Papillae, Lingual Glands and Lyssa of the Tongue of Selected Wild Felids (Carnivora, Felidae) in Biological Aspects. Biology (2023).
2. Morphofunctional study of the tongue in the domestic duck (Anas platyrhynchos f. domestica, Anatidae): LM and SEM study. Zoomorphology (2016).
3. The tongue of the red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans): morphological characterization through gross, light, scanning electron, and immunofluorescence microscopic examination. BMC Veterinary Research (2024).