Histological observations on the pharynx of the musk shrew, Suncus murinus
Nokubi, K.
Kaibogaku Zasshi. Journal of Anatomy 63(6): 489-501
1988
ISSN/ISBN: 0022-7722 PMID: 3250171 Document Number: 309166
The histological organization of pharynx of the musk shrew, Suncus murinus, was investigated by light microscopy. Differential structures in the pharynx of the musk shrew were the tonsilla palatina, torus pharyngeus, cartilago nasopharyngea*, cartilagines veli palatini*, cartilagines thyroideae posterior* and ligamentum thyroideum posterius*. The tonsilla palatina in the oropharynx is a primitive tonsilla and is classified as the so-called tonsilla palatina (Takagi et al., 1985). The torus pharyngeus was a mucosal eminence on the dorsal edge of the nasopharyngeal hiatus (Wood Jones, 1940). The cart. nasopharyngea, a U-shaped elastic cartilage, is found on the dorsal and lateral walls of the nasopharynx. A pair of triangular elastic cartilages, the cart, veli palatini, are found on the soft palate and arcus palatopharyngeus. These elastic cartilages are observed for the first time in the musk shrew, and are similar to the previously reported cart. thyroidea posterior and lig. thyroideum posterius (Nokubi and Igarashi, 1984). (Note: Asterisk in the text denotes a tentative designation.).