The Anatomy of the Dog Soft Palate. I. Histological Evaluation of the Caudal Soft Palate in Mesaticephalic Breeds

Abstract

The gross anatomy and overall structure of the soft palate has been described in the average dog's head, however, no descriptive microanatomical studies of the dog soft palate are available, despite their possible utility in view of the manifold and important repercussions of this organ physiology. This is the first of two companion papers, dealing with the caudal part of the soft palate in the canine species, in mesaticephalic and brachycephalic dogs. Specimens from mesaticephalic healthy dogs (N ¼ 8) were collected after euthanasia, processed for histology and sectioned at six transversal levels. Morphological stainings were used for a microscopic evaluation of the tissue layers composing the distal part of the soft palate in adult mesaticephalic dogs, and histochemical reactions were applied to assess mucin types within glandular tissue and to investigate the connective tissues. The organ was characteristically organized into a major deep musculo-connective axis mixed with salivary glands and covered by the mucosal lining on either the nasopharyngeal or the oral sides. The results of this investigation add to the general knowledge of the anatomy of soft palate in the canine species and establish baseline information for the parallel study on the long and thickened soft palate, which is typical of adult brachycephalic dogs. Anat Rec, 294:1261Rec, 294: -1266Rec, 294: , 2011. V V C 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

The Anatomy of the Dog Soft Palate. III. Histological Evaluation of the Caudal Soft Palate in Brachycephalic Neonates

“…Histological peculiarities, such as thickened mucosal epithelia, general oedema of the connective tissue, glandular hyperplasia and many different muscular modifications were commonly described (Pichetto et al, ). On the other hand, such histological features could not be found in the corresponding part of the soft palate of mesaticephalic dog breeds as previously described in a related article (Arrighi et al, ).…”

“…The different aspect of the mucosal layer at the two dorsal and ventral sides, together with the different organization at the boundary between epithelial tissue and the supporting connective, might sustain different functional performances at the two mucosal sides, as underlined in the mesaticephalic dog soft palate (Arrighi et al, ) and previously suggested by Paulsen and Thale () in the human soft palate.…”

“…Microscopic evaluation of histological and histochemical features was performed. For this purpose, serial sections were stained as described in Arrighi et al (). Briefly, Haematoxylin and Eosin technique (H&E), Mallory trichromic stain, sequential Alcian Blue pH 2.5/Periodic Acid‐Schiff (AB/PAS) staining technique and High Iron Diamine/Alcian Blue 8GX pH 2.5 (HID/AB) reactions were applied to describe the major tissue types constituting the soft palate and to characterize the mucin types within glandular tissue.…”

“…This article constitutes the final part of three companion papers (Arrighi et al, ; Pichetto et al, ) which were aimed at giving a wide anatomical description in different canine head shapes.…”

Nasopharyngeal Dimensions From Computed Tomography of Pugs and French Bulldogs With Brachycephalic Airway Syndrome

“…Brachycephalic airway syndrome (BAS) is an established cause of respiratory distress in brachycephalic dog breeds . The shortened skull bones in these breeds are not accompanied by reduction of the associated soft tissue structures, resulting in a compressed nasal passage and altered pharyngeal anatomy . The most frequently reported primary components of BAS are stenotic nares and an elongated, thickened soft palate .…”