Cow tongue anatomy refers to the features of its parts, papillae, muscles, and attachments. It occupies the greater part of the mouth cavity and is considered a highly movable structure of the cow’s digestive system.
Here, I will describe the details anatomy of the cow’s tongue with schematic diagrams and real pictures.
Quick answer: Cow tongue anatomy includes three parts, four types of papillae, intrinsic and extrinsic muscles, along with their attachments to the mouth cavity.
Thus, it can be the basic template/guide to learn and compare tongues from other species. Here, I will go first with the practical identification of the cow’s tongue with different resources and then a description.
Cow tongue anatomy
Figure 1 shows the schematic diagram/presentation of the different parts of a cow’s tongue. This hand-drawing illustration helps you to practice and prepare yourself for the gross anatomy examination.
Here, the figure shows clearly three parts –
- Root/radix linguae
- Body/corpus linguae, and
- Apex/apex linguae
Here, the root, body, and apex of the cow tongue present different special features that are shown in Figure 2. I will discuss all these features from the different parts of the cow’s tongue separately.
But, the most unique features for the cow’s tongue are the presence of the followings –
- Torus linguae and lingual fossa: Present on the body part
- Frenum linguae: At the ventral surface of the tongue
However, the figure also presents the different surfaces and other structures from these three parts. In Figure 3, I have tried to identify the different types of papillae from the dorsal mucous membrane of the cow’s tongue.
Thus, it presents the following mechanical papillae –
- Filiform papillae: They are numerous and distributed throughout the dorsal surface just rostral to the lingual fossa.
- Lenticular papillae: They are rounded papillae present on the torus linguae.
- Conical papillae: These are the conical-shaped papillae present on the cranial and craniolateral aspect of the torus linguae.
Again, the cow’s tongue presents the following gustatory papillae –
- Fungiform papillae: These are the largest and are distributed among the filliforms.
- Vallate/circumvallate papillae: They are larger and present on the caudal part of the dorsum of the tongue.
However, Figure 4 shows the schematic presentation of different extrinsic and intrinsic muscles from the cow’s tongue anatomy.
Location and attachment of the cow tongue
The cow tongue is considered the chief organ of prehension, mastication, and deglutition. But, how is the cow tongue located and attached to the mouth cavity?
Well, the cow tongue is located on the floor of the mouth/oral cavity, between the two rami of the mandible. Again, it is supported by a structure formed by the mylohyoid muscle.
Figure 5 shows two structures that attach the cow tongue with soft plate and the floor of the mouth cavity. These are the palato glossal arch/cranial pillar and frenum/ frenulum linguae of the cow’s tongue, respectively.
Here, the palatoglossal arch is a cranial fold of the mucous membrane that extends from the soft palate to the root of the cow’s tongue. However, the frenulum linguae is also a fold of mucous membrane placed at the ventral surface of the tongue.
This frenulum linguae connects the ventral surface of the cow’s tongue with the floor of the mouth cavity.
Now, I will describe the main structures of the cow tongue with hand-drawing diagrams and pictures.
Parts of the cow tongue anatomy
Table 1 presents an overview of the three different parts of the cow tongue anatomy –
| Parts | Root | Body | Apex |
| Appearance | Thick | Thick | Thin, blunt |
| Attachment | Attaches to the hyoid bone and mandible | Ventrally with the frenum linguae | Free and highly protactile |
| Surfaces | Dorsal and ventral | Dorsal, and two laterals | Dorsal and ventral |
| Papillae | Vallate | Lenticular and conical | Filliform and fungiform |
| Special features | Forms palato glossal arch with soft palate | Torus lingua and lingual fossa | Rounded free border |
Now, you might learn the details description of the root, body, and apex from a cow tongue.
Root of a cow tongue
Figure 6 highlights the features of the root segment of a cow tongue. It is the most caudal part of the tongue and attaches to different structures.
Here, the figure presents that the root has the following attachments –
- Hyoid bone and mandible: by the hyoglossus and genioglossus muscles (ventrally and caudally)
- Soft palate: by palato glossal arch
- Pharynx: by pharyngeal muscles and membrane
- Epiglottis: by the glossoepiglottic folds
However, the root of the cow’s tongue presents two surfaces: dorsal and ventral. Here, the dorsal surface is free and slopes ventrally and caudally. Again, most of the ventral surface of the root is fixed and attached to different structures.
Body of the cow tongue
Figure 7 presents the core features of the body of a cow’s tongue. It is the middle part of the tongue and presents three surfaces and some of the unique structures.
Here, the three surfaces of the body are: dorsal, right and left laterals. But sometimes the ventral surface may be applied to the body. However, this surface is attached to the floor of the mouth cavity with the frenulum linguae.
Dorsal surface: The dorsal surface of the body of a cow’s tongue is free and rounded. This surface is known as the dorsum linguae.
You will find a transverse groove on the dorsum linguae of the cow’s tongue. However, a raised area is present at the caudal aspect of this transverse groove (in Figure 7).
This raised, or prominence area, is known as the torus linguae. It is the most unique feature of the body part of a cow’s tongue.
The transverse groove of the body is known as the lingual fossa. It is also one of the most unique features of the cow’s tongue.
However, both the torus linguae and lingual fossa are more prominent in the cow’s tongue compared to other ruminants’ tongues.
In normal conditions, the dorsum linguae of a cow tongue is free throughout. But, it remain contact with the hard palate except at the glossoepiglottic space when the mouth is closed.
Lateral and ventral surfaces: The two lateral surfaces of the body are flattened and have no special features. Again, the ventral surface is related to the geniohyoideus and mylohyoideus muscles.
Apex of the cow tongue
Here, Figure 8 highlights the unique features of the apex of a cow tongue. It is the most cranial part of the tongue, which is free and somewhat pointed.
Here, the figure presents two surfaces, two extremities, and a rounded border –
Dorsal surface: It is free and contains different papillae. While touching this surface, you will find more roughness.
Ventral surface: The ventral surface is smooth and free.
Caudal extremity: It is broad and continues with the body part of the tongue.
Cranial extremity: This extremity is free and highly protactile.
Rounded border: It is presented cranially and considered a thin and blunt structure.
Structure of the cow tongue
While describing the structure of a cow tongue, you might include the followings –
- Outer layer of the mucous membrane
- Internal masses of muscles, glands, vessels, and nerves
The mucous membrane of the cow tongue is intimately adhered to the underlying connective tissue. But it is loosely connected at the lower part of the lateral borders of the tongue’s body and the ventral surface of the apex.
Here, the mucous membrane is quite thick and dense on the dorsum of the tongue. However, it is thin on the lateral borders of the cow’s tongue.
The mucous membrane on the dorsal surface/dorsum of the tongue possesses different types of papillae. But, they are located in three different parts of the tongue and mechanical or gustatory type.
Within the internal masses, you will find the bundles of skeletal muscles. Again, you will find the lingual glands within the skeletal muscle bundles.
Here, the arrangement of these skeletal muscles of a cow’s tongue is in different directions. The arrangement of these muscles and lingual glands is more visible histologically.
However, the core of a cow’s tongue is richly supplied with vessels and nerves.
Papillae of the cow tongue
Here, Table 2 shows the summary of the different mechanical papillae from a cow tongue –
| Papillae | Filliform papillae | Lenticular papillae | Conical papillae |
| Apperance | Thread like projection | Rounded projection | Conical-shaped projection |
| Location | Dorsal surface rostral to lingual fossa to apex | Dorsum of the torus linguae | Dorsum of the torus linguae |
| Numbers | Abundance | Numerous | More |
Again, Table 3 presents the overview of the gustatory papillae from the cow’s tongue –
| Papillae | Fungiform papillae | Vallate papillae |
| Apperance | Larger, rounded | Oval and irregular |
| Location | Lingual fossa to apex | Near the root of the tongue (dorsally) |
Here, Figure 9 presents both mechanical and gustatory papillae from the cow tongue anatomy.
Filiform papillae of the cow’s tongue
Figure 10 presents different fine and thread-like projections on the dorsal surface of the torus linguae. They are abundance at the rostral aspect of the torus linguae and also distributed to the sides of the apex.
These filiform papillae are directed backward and impart the roughness of the cow’s tongue. However, these papillae provide more roughness in the small runimant/goat’s tongue.
Fungiform papillae of the tongue
Let’s see Figure 11, which presents a larger, rounded/button-like projection on the dorsum of the tongue (lingual fossa to apex). They are distinctly lying scattered between filiform papillae.
Thus, the fungiform papillae of the cow’s tongue are located on the dorsum and side of the body and apex. The epithelium of the fungiform papillae contains the taste buds, which are sensitive to taste.
The number of the fungiform papillae is not abundance like the filiform papillae. However, the color (black) of the fungiform papillae and their rounded appearance can be a unique identification point for you.
Conical papillae of the cow’s tongue identification
Here, Figure 12 presents the conical-shaped projection on the dorsum of the torus linguae of the cow’s tongue. These papillae are more prominent at the anterior and anterolateral aspect of the torus linguae.
However, these papillae are directed anteriorly and also anterolaterally. The shape of these papillae is conical and larger than other papillae on the torus linguae.
These papillae are the conical papillae of the cow’s tongue. However, these types of papillae of the cow’s tongue are considered the mechanical papillae.
Lenticular papillae of the cow’s tongue
The above figure (Figure 12) also presents numerous rounded projections on the dorsum of the torus linguae of the cow’s tongue. These are the lenticular papillae of the cow’s tongue.
These papillae are distributed within the conical papillae. However, the number of lenticular papillae is more at the caudal and caudolateral aspect of the torus linguae of the cow’s tongue (Ghosh, 2000).
Vallate papillae of the cow’s tongue
Figure 13 shows larger, rounded projections on the caudal aspect of the dorsal part of the cow’s tongue. These are the vallate papillae of the cow’s tongue.
The number of these papillae varies from 8 to 17 and is arranged in rows on either side of the dorsum. They are rounded and broader at their free ends than at the attached end.
However, they appear like a sunken depression bound by an annular wall. Thus, these vallate papillae are also called the circumvallate papillae of the cow’s tongue.
Sometimes, the free surface of the vallate papillae are tuberculus. They can bear the small secondary papillae in some cases.
The vallate/circumvalate papillae of the cow’s tongue are also gustatory papillae like fungiform papillae.
Taste buds: Thus, both the vallate and fungiform papillae of the cow’s tongue bear taste buds or organs of taste. Here, the taste buds are located at the epithelium of these two papillae and consist of an oval body, neck, and taste pore (Figure 14).
This is well viewed in the histologically and you will find two main cell types in each taste bud –
Elongated sustentacular cells: It is also known as the supporting cell, and
Neuroepithelium cells: They are also called the taste cells.
Cow tongue muscles
The bulk of the cow tongue is composed of skeletal muscles, which are of two types: extrinsic and intrinsic. These muscles of the cow’s tongue are also called the lingual muscles.
Here, Figure 15 shows the different muscles of the cow’s tongue.
What are the intrinsic muscles of the cow’s tongue?
The intrinsic muscles of the cow’s tongue are not distinct and are not attached to the bones. These muscles arise and insert within the cow’s tongue itself.
They are classified according to their orientation:
- Superficial and deep longitudinal fibers,
- Transverse fibers, and
- Perpendicular muscle fibers,
These intrinsic muscle fibers blend with the extrinsic muscles and also with each other. They can act jointly to shorten the tongue and lessen its width. Thus, the intrinsic muscles can change the shape and form of the cow’s tongue as per the requirement.
Extrinsic muscles of the cow’s tongue
You will find four pairs of the extrinsic muscles in the cow’s tongue that arise from the bones. They are radiating from the point of origin and insert the substances of the cow’s tongue.
Let’s identify these four extrinsic muscles from the cow’s tongue –
Styloglossus muscle of the cow tongue
The styloglossus is a long, slender muscle of the cow’s tongue. This muscle lies along the ventrolateral aspect of the cow’s tongue.
It originates in the form of a flat tendon from the rostral end of the stylohyoid bone. However, it is inserted on the rostrolateral part of the apex of the cow’s tongue.
Action: This muscle shortens and retracts the tongue. However, the unilateral action of this muscle draws the apex of the tongue laterally.
Hyoglossus muscles of the tongue
The hyoglossus muscle of the cow’s tongue is wide and flat. It lies lateral to the base of the cow’s tongue.
This muscle of the tongue also covers the genioglossus muscle. Again, it arises from the basihyoid, lingual process, and thyrohyoid parts of the cow’s hyoid bones.
Finally, this muscle blends with the intrinsic muscles and inserts over the root of the tongue.
Action: the hyoglossus muscle helps to retract and depress the cow’s tongue.
Genioglossus muscle of the cow’s tongue
The genioglossus muscle of the cow’s tongue is a flat type of muscle. It lies parallel to the median plane on the ventral surface of the tongue.
This genioglossus muscle is separated from the muscle of the opposite side by the septum linguae. However, it arises at the angle of the chin on the medial surface of the cow’s mandible. It is actually just caudal to the symphysis of the body of the cow mandible.
The fibers of the cow’s genioglossus converge with the intrinsic muscle. Finally, it inserts at the ventrolateral aspect of the tip/apex of the cow’s tongue.
Action: It depresses the tongue and also retracts the apex.
Palatoglossal muscle of the cow’s tongue
The palatoglossal is a thin and narrow muscle of the cow’s tongue. It extends from the cow’s soft palate to the root of the tongue.
This palatoglossal muscle arises from the free borders of the soft palate. However, it blends with the hyoglossus muscle and inserts on the root of the cow’s tongue.
Action: This muscle narrows the isthmus fausium.
Lingual glands and other structures of the cow tongue
Lingual glands and follicles of the cow tongue are visible in a histological section. Here, Figure 16 shows the lingual glands and follicles from the cow’s histology slides.
Here, the cow’s lingual glands are lobulated and small. They remain under the mucous membrane and are embedded within the muscle bundles.
You will find more lingual glands at the root of the cow’s tongue. However, these lingual glands open at the vallate papillae of the cow’s tongue. These lingual glands of the cow’s tongue are also called the gustatory glands.
Sometimes, you will see the aggregation of the lymphoid follicles at the root of the cow’s tongue. These are the cow’s lingual follicles/lingual tonsils.
FAQ’s on cow’s tongue anatomy
The mylohyoid, which is a part of the cow neck muscle that hangs the tongue between the bodies of the mandible. This muscle is important in cows as it introduces deglutition.
The innervation of the cow tongue is complex, and it involves five cranial nerves. These are the lingual branch of the mandibular nerve, chorda tympani of the facial nerve, glosophrayngeal nerve, vagus nerve, and hypoglossal nerve.
Here, the lingual nerve is the branch of the trigeminal nerve that provides tactile, pain, and thermal innervation to the tongue.
Conclusion
So, the cow tongue anatomy describes the features of the different parts of it along with various papillae. It also comprises the different types of intrinsic and extrinsic muscles.
The body of the cow’s tongue has the torus linguae and transverse lingual fossa, which are exceptional. However, the cow tongue possesses the mechanical (filiform, lenticular, and conical) and gustatory (fungiform and vallate) papillae on its dorsal surface.
References
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