Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, South Valley University, Qena, Egypt.
Microsc Res Tech. 2020 Sep;83(9):1045-1055. doi: 10.1002/jemt.23495. Epub 2020 Apr 13.
The present study aims to compare the morphology of the oropharyngeal roof of young and adult domestic pigeon (Columba livia domestica) by gross observation, morphometric measurements, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The oropharyngeal roof was divided into the palate and pharyngeal roof. The palate was narrow triangular in shape and concave along its length. It could be divided into a rostral part contained three longitudinal palatine ridges and a caudal part contained the choanal slit. The choanal slit consisted of narrow rostral and wide caudal parts. The edges of the narrow part were encircled by small caudomedially directed papillae. On the contrary, the edges of the wide part of slit were free from papillae. By SEM, the palatal mucosa in young pigeon showed primordia of small papillae which increased in number and size forming a longitudinal row of papillae parallel to the edges of the rostral narrow part of slit in adult pigeon. The surface of the pharyngeal roof appeared smooth in young pigeon, while in adult pigeon, it showed dome-shaped elevations. The infundibular cleft had smooth edges. The caudal part of the pharyngeal roof formed an elevated transverse mucosal fold on which a transverse row of conical-shaped papillae was present. In conclusion, our results documented the presence of some differences between the oropharyngeal roof of young and adult pigeon, which suggest a high degree of functional adaptation in adult pigeon to their diet compared to young pigeon. Such adaptations might increase the efficiency of food prehension in adult pigeon. The present study compared the morphology of the oropharyngeal roof of young and adult domestic pigeon by gross observation, morphometry, and scanning electron microscopy. The morphometrical data showed higher values in adult pigeon compared to young pigeon. The palatal mucosa and the pharyngeal roof of adult pigeon showed papillae and elevations that were not present in young pigeon. Our results suggest a high degree of functional adaptation in adult pigeon to their diet compared to young pigeon. Such adaptations might increase the efficiency of food prehension in adult pigeon.
本研究旨在通过大体观察、形态测量和扫描电子显微镜（SEM）比较幼鸽和成年鸽（Columba livia domestica）的咽顶形态。咽顶分为腭和咽顶。腭呈窄三角形，沿其长度呈凹形。它可分为包含三个纵向腭嵴的前部和包含鼻后孔的后部。鼻后孔由狭窄的前部和宽阔的后部组成。狭窄部分的边缘被小的向尾内指向的乳头环绕。相反，裂缝宽阔部分的边缘没有乳头。通过 SEM，幼鸽的腭黏膜显示出小乳头的原基，这些原基数量增加，大小增加，在成年鸽的裂缝前部形成与边缘平行的纵向乳头列。幼鸽的咽顶表面光滑，而成鸽的咽顶表面呈圆顶状隆起。漏斗裂边缘光滑。咽顶的后部形成一个凸起的横向黏膜皱襞，其上有一行横向圆锥形乳头。总之，我们的研究结果记录了幼鸽和成年鸽咽顶之间的一些差异，这表明成年鸽在饮食方面比幼鸽具有更高的功能适应性。这种适应性可能会提高成年鸽捕食食物的效率。本研究通过大体观察、形态测量和扫描电子显微镜比较了幼鸽和成年家鸽的咽顶形态。形态测量数据显示，成年鸽的数值高于幼鸽。成年鸽的腭黏膜和咽顶有幼鸽没有的乳头和隆起。我们的研究结果表明，成年鸽在饮食方面比幼鸽具有更高的功能适应性。这种适应性可能会提高成年鸽捕食食物的效率。
