Morphology of tongue in a local Iraqi breed cattle, Bos taurus

This study was conducted on 16 healthy local breed cattle tongue collected. Description of shape, location and measurements were provided. Based on the results, the tongue was divided into root, body and apex with mean total length of 28.4±1.5cm. Its dorsal surface has torus linguae which limited cranially by transvers fossa and has two gustatory papillae. The vallate papillae which percent in two rows on either side of tongue and fungiform papillae that embedded in dorsal surface of apex among the filiform papillae. Three mechanical papillae were filiform, long thread-like projection and conical papillae which is pointed tip projection and the specific lenticular papillae on the torus linguae.