Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2023 Sep;52(5):709-722.
doi: 10.1111/ahe.12928. Epub 2023 Apr 25.

Macroscopic and histological aspects of the pharynx and larynx of the giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla Linnaeus, 1758)

Evelyn de Oliveira  1 , Eduardo de Paula Nascente  1 , Leiny Paula Oliveira  1 , Jair Martins Santiago Neto  1 , Bruna Siqueira Gomes de Lima  1 , Júlio Roquete Cardoso  2 , Veridiana Maria Brianezi Dignani de Moura  1
Affiliations

Macroscopic and histological aspects of the pharynx and larynx of the giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla Linnaeus, 1758)

Evelyn de Oliveira et al. Anat Histol Embryol. 2023 Sep.

Abstract

Giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) is an endangered species that resides in much of Latin America, but it has been losing its habitat, especially in the Cerrado biome, where it constantly suffers traumas resulting from fires and roadkill. The anatomical knowledge of structures of the respiratory system is important for a better morphophysiological understanding of the species. Thus, this study aimed to perform the macroscopic and histomorphological description of the pharynx and larynx of the giant anteater. Twelve adult giant anteaters were used, three of them fixed in buffered formalin for further dissection and pharynx and larynx macroscopic analysis of structures. From the other animals, samples of the pharynx and larynx were collected and prepared for histological evaluation under optical microscope. Macroscopically, their pharynx and soft palate are extensive, and the anatomical location of these structures and the larynx differs greatly from that described in other species. The larynx, although more caudal, was similar to that of other animals. Histologically, the epithelium of these regions varied between the pseudostratified ciliated columnar and the non-keratinized stratified squamous epithelium. Laryngeal cartilages were composed of elastic (epiglotti) and hyaline cartilages (arytenoid, cricoid and thyroid cartilage), with an ossification process and glandular clusters around the hyaline cartilage. The distinct anatomical location of the pharynx and larynx of Myrmecophaga tridactyla is the main macroscopic finding of this study, besides the length of the pharynx and soft palate of these animals.

Keywords: anatomy; histology; respiratory system; xenarthrans.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

REFERENCES

    1. Banks, W. J. (1993). Applied veterinary histology (3a ed.). Mosby.
    1. Bertassoli, B. M., Santos, A. C., Oliveira, F. D., Oliveira, D. M., Assis-Neto, A. C., & Carvalho, A. F. (2013). Morfologia da laringe e traqueia de gambás (Didelphis sp.). Ciencia Animal Brasileira, 14(2), 222-229. https://doi.org/10.5216/cab.v14i2.17044
    1. Borges, N. C., Nardotto, J. R. B., Oliveira, R. S. L., Runcos, L. H. E., Ribeiro, R. G., & Bogoevich, A. N. (2017). Anatomy description of cervical region and hyoid apparatus in living giant anteaters Myrmecophaga tridactyla Linnaeus, 1758. Pesquisa Veterinaria Brasileira, 37(11), 1345-1351. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0100-736X2017001100025
    1. Braga, F. G. (2010). Ecologia e Comportamento de Tamanduá-bandeira (Myrmecophaga tridactyla Linnaeus, 1758) no município de Jaguariaíva, Paraná [Thesis file]. https://acervodigital.ufpr.br/handle/1884/24958
    1. Eurell, J. A., & Frappier, B. L. (2006). Dellmann's textbook of veterinary histology (6a ed.). Blackwell Publishing.

LinkOut - more resources