CHAD: DIGESTIVE SYSTEM OF CUNNER 



Figure 5. — Taste buds (T) on the 

 mucosa of proirusiblc lip of cunner 

 (X 400). d, dentary tooth; G, gusta- 

 tory pore; Sm. submucosa. 



folds, i.e., to the middle lines of this region 

 and to the teeth. The taste bud is an ovoid 

 structure of epithelial cells (Figure 5). A 

 gustatory pore is present at the tip of each 

 taste bud. A thickening of the submucosal 

 layer contains the nerve fiber and forms the 

 base of the taste bud. 



Basophilic mucous secreting cells continue 

 from the external lips and appear throughout 

 this region. Mucous cells increase in numbers 

 posteriorly. The lateral surface of the pharyn- 

 geal cavity and the ridges among the teeth 

 are covered by mucous secreting cells. Beneath 



the basal membrane of the mucous layer, the 

 submucosa is formed of a thick layer of collagen 

 fibers toward the posterior part of the pharyn- 

 geal cavity. The areolar connective tissue of 

 the tunica propria and submucosa are similar 

 in this region. Lymphocytes and granulocytes 

 are apparent in the submucosa of the ridges 

 among the pharyngeal teeth. Circular muscles 

 which connect to the head bones are external 

 to the areolar connective tissue. 



The epithelium and submucosa of the tongue 

 are similar to that of the pharyngeal cavity but 

 are much more compact (Figure 6). Posteriorly. 



Figure 6. — Mucosa (e) and sub- 

 mucosa (Sm) of the tongue of cunner 

 with hairlet sensory organ (X 400). 

 e, epithelium (mucosa); G, gustatory 

 pore of hairlet sensory organ; m, 

 basophilic mucous secreting cells. 



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