Analysis of the Green Turtle Esophagus Chelonia Mydas (Linnaeus, 1758), Testudines, Cheloniidae

The esophagus is a muscular tube whose function is to transport food from the mouth to the stomach and basically contain the same layers as the rest of the digestive tract. The morphological knowledge of structures involved in basic physiological processes in organisms is extremely important in the...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of morphology 2019-12, Vol.37 (4), p.1391-1396
Main Authors: de Melo, Luana Felix, Rodrigues, Ana Clara Bastos, Cabrera, Marisol Leon, Macedo Turquetti, Anaelise de Oliveira, Ruivo, Lourengo Proenga, Azarias, Gabriel Rici, Lopes, Edris Queiroz, Rici, Rose Eli Grassi
Format: Article
Language:eng ; spa
Subjects:
ANATOMY & MORPHOLOGY
Electron microscopy
Green turtle
Keratin
Microscopy
Physiological aspects
Reptiles
Sea turtles
Turtles
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Summary:The esophagus is a muscular tube whose function is to transport food from the mouth to the stomach and basically contain the same layers as the rest of the digestive tract. The morphological knowledge of structures involved in basic physiological processes in organisms is extremely important in the acquisition of ecological and evolutionary knowledge about species. This study produces morphological information proving the structures found in the green turtle's esophagus. The animals were dissected according to the methodology used by Wyneken, allowing analysis of external and internal morphological characteristics of the esophagus. The samples were processed for microscopic analysis by light and scanning electron microscopy. It was observed that the esophagus presents thin and conical dermal papillae facing the stomach throughout the mucosa to the gastroesophageal portion, decreasing its size at the end of its extension, covered by a thick keratin layer on keratinized pavement epithelial tissue. It is concluded that the esophagus of Chelonia mydas is covered by a layer of conical keratinized dermal papillae important to exert the mechanical and protective function of the mucosa of this organ, considering that the feeding of these animals is extremely abrasive, besides serving as protection so that the food does not return. KEY WORDS: Chelonia mydas; Histology; Esophagus; Keratin.
ISSN:0717-9502
0717-9367
0717-9502
DOI:10.4067/S0717-95022019000401391