Some Macro-Microscopic Features of the Glandular Apparatus of the Tongue at Different Ages

Abstract

Morphological data describing the features of the lingual glands, their dimensional characteristics, age-related changes and regional qualities was obtained by studying the material from the corpses of 110 people by using the macro-microscopic and morphometric methods. The glands of the tongue on total preparations were stained with methylene blue. Statistical analysis of the quantitative data included the calculation of the arithmetic mean of each indicator and the error of the arithmetic mean. Glandular apparatus of the tongue at the time of birth is completely formed. Change in the number and size of the lingual glands occurs before the 1st period of adulthood, when their total number (by 2.8 times), length (by 3.7 times), width (by 3.5 times) and thickness of the initial segment (by 1.6 times) increase in comparison to the parameters of the neonatal period. The area of initial segment, the number of primary units in its structure, the area of the initial unit and its number of gland cells (on cross section) increase by the 1st period of adulthood.