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Comparative Study
. 2002 Sep;201(3):195-209.
doi: 10.1046/j.1469-7580.2002.00088.x.

Hyoid apparatus and pharynx in the lion (Panthera leo), jaguar (Panthera onca), tiger (Panthera tigris), cheetah (Acinonyxjubatus) and domestic cat (Felis silvestris f. catus)

G E Weissengruber  1 , G Forstenpointner, G Peters, A Kübber-Heiss, W T Fitch
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Hyoid apparatus and pharynx in the lion (Panthera leo), jaguar (Panthera onca), tiger (Panthera tigris), cheetah (Acinonyxjubatus) and domestic cat (Felis silvestris f. catus)

G E Weissengruber et al. J Anat. 2002 Sep.

Abstract

Structures of the hyoid apparatus, the pharynx and their topographical positions in the lion, tiger, jaguar, cheetah and domestic cat were described in order to determine morphological differences between species or subfamilies of the Felidae. In the lion, tiger and jaguar (species of the subfamily Pantherinae) the Epihyoideum is an elastic ligament lying between the lateral pharyngeal muscles and the Musculus (M.) thyroglossus rather than a bony element like in the cheetah or the domestic cat. The M. thyroglossus was only present in the species of the Pantherinae studied. In the lion and the jaguar the Thyrohyoideum and the thyroid cartilage are connected by an elastic ligament, whereas in the tiger there is a synovial articulation. In adult individuals of the lion, tiger and jaguar the ventral end of the tympanohyal cartilage is rotated and therefore the ventral end of the attached Stylohyoideum lies caudal to the Tympanohyoideum and the cranial base. In newborn jaguars the Apparatus hyoideus shows a similar topographical position as in adult cheetahs or domestic cats. In adult Pantherinae, the Basihyoideum and the attached larynx occupy a descended position: they are situated near the cranial thoracic aperture, the pharyngeal wall and the soft palate are caudally elongated accordingly. In the Pantherinae examined the caudal end of the soft palate lies dorsal to the glottis. Differences in these morphological features between the subfamilies of the Felidae have an influence on specific structural characters of their vocalizations.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1. Schematic drawing of the elements of the hyoidean apparatus (lateral view). T, Tympanohyoideum; S, Stylohyoideum; E, Epihyoideum; C, Ceratohyoideum; B, Basiyoideum; Th, Thyrohyoideum; Bt, Bulla tympanica; Eg, epiglottis; La, larynx.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2. Hyoid apparatus, larynx and cranial part of the trachea in the lion. G, M. geniohyoideus; To, tongue; T, Tympanohyoideum; S, Stylohyoideum; E, Epihyoideum; C, Ceratohyoideum; B, Basiyoideum; Th, Thyrohyoideum; Ct, Cartilago thyroidea; Gt, Glandula thyroidea (position indicated by broken line).
Fig. 3
Fig. 3. Hyoid apparatus, larynx and cranial part of the trachea in the tiger. T, Tympanohyoideum; S, Stylohyoideum; E, Epihyoideum; C, Ceratohyoideum; B, Basiyoideum; Th, Thyrohyoideum; Ct, Cartilago thyroidea; Gt, Glandula thyroidea.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4. Hyoid apparatus, larynx and cranial part of the trachea in the jaguar. G, M. geniohyoideus; To, tongue; T, Tympanohyoideum; S, Stylohyoideum; E, Epihyoideum; C, Ceratohyoideum; B, Basiyoideum; Th, Thyrohyoideum; Ct, Cartilago thyroidea; Gt, Glandula thyroidea.
Fig. 5
Fig. 5. Magnetic resonance imaging of the head and neck of a newborn jaguar. To, tongue; Eg, epiglottis; P, soft palate.
Fig. 6
Fig. 6. Hyoid apparatus, larynx, and cranial part of the trachea in the cheetah. T, Tympanohyoideum; S, Stylohyoideum; E, Epihyoideum; C, Ceratohyoideum; B, Basiyoideum; Th, Thyrohyoideum; Ct, Cartilago thyroidea; Gt, Glandula thyroidea.
Fig. 7
Fig. 7. Upper neck region of the domestic cat after removal of the skin, parotis and M. digastricus (lateroventral view, left = caudal). L, larynx; B, Bulla tympanica; M, Meatus acusticus externus; Ma, M. masseter; T, Tympanohyoideum; S, Stylohyoideum; E, Epihyoideum; C, Ceratohyoideum.
Fig. 8
Fig. 8. Hyoid apparatus, larynx and cranial part of the trachea in the domestic cat. To, tongue; T, Tympanohyoideum; S, Stylohyoideum; E, Epihyoideum; C, Ceratohyoideum; B, Basiyoideum; Th, Thyrohyoideum; Ct, Cartilago thyroidea; Gt, Glandula thyroidea.
Fig. 9
Fig. 9. Tympanohyoideum (on top) and bony Stylohyoideum of the lion (lateral view; right = caudal). Arrowheads indicate the beginning (dorsal) and the end (ventral) of the rotated part of the tympanohyal cartilage.
Fig. 10
Fig. 10. Cartilaginous Tympanohyoideum (on top) and bony Stylohyoideum of lion, tiger and jaguar. Left: lion, male, left body side, left-lateral aspect. Middle: tiger, female, right body side, right-lateral aspect. Right: jaguar, male, left body side, left-lateral aspect. Graduation in cm (numbers) and mm.
Fig. 11
Fig. 11. Fossa retromandibularis in the tiger after removal of the skin and the parotis (lateral view, right = caudal). Sh, M. stylohyoideus; Sg, M. styloglossus; T, Tympanohyoideum; S, Stylohyoideum; E, Epihyoideum; Oh, M. occipitohyoideus; B, Bulla tympanica; Sp, M. stylopharyngeus caudalis.
Fig. 12
Fig. 12. Regiones mandibularis, intermandibularis and subhyoidea in the tiger after removal of the skin (ventral view). My, M. mylohyoideus; Ma, M. masseter; D, M. digastricus; Sh, M. stylohyoideus; G, M. geniohyoideus; H, M. hyoglossus.
Fig. 13
Fig. 13. Radiograph of the upper neck region of an intubated lion (lateral view, left = caudal). Co, Condylus occipitalis; P, soft palate; B, Bulla tympanica; A, Articulatio temporomandibularis; arrowheads, Stylohyoideum.
Fig. 14
Fig. 14. Stylohyoideum (S), Epihyoideum (E), and Ceratohyoideum (C) of a newborn jaguar (histological section, HE stain). Scale bar = 400 µm.
Fig. 15
Fig. 15. Lateral pharyngeal wall of the jaguar (histological section, Weigert stain). E, epihyal ligament; Tg, M. thyroglossus; M, mucous membrane. Scale bar = 400 µm.
Fig. 16
Fig. 16. Lateral pharyngeal wall in the lion. To, tongue; S, Stylohyoideum; C, Ceratohyoideum; La, larynx; arrows, Epihyoideum; arrowhead, position of the bone within the epihyal ligament.
Fig. 17
Fig. 17. Bone within the epihyal ligament of the lion (histological section, HE stain). Scale bar = 400 µm.
Fig. 18
Fig. 18. Lateral pharyngeal wall in the lion (lateral view, left = caudal). Th, Thyrohyoideum; C, Ceratohyoideum; E, Epihyoideum; H, M. hyoglossus (dissected); Ch, M. ceratohyoideus; Tg, M. thyroglossus; Hp, M. hyopharyngeus; G, M. geniohyoideus; Sg, M. styloglossus.
Fig. 19
Fig. 19. CT-image of the head and neck of an adult tiger, 3-D reconstruction (caudal view). Co, Condylus occipitalis; Bt, Bulla tympanica; S, Stylohyoideum; B, Basihyoideum; T, Thyrohyoideum. The cartilages of the larynx are caudally attached to the Thyrohyoideum.
Fig. 20
Fig. 20. Vestibulum oesophagi in the jaguar (dissected, dorsal view). P, soft palate; A, arytenoid cartilage; V, Vestibulum oesophagi; L, Limen pharyngoesophageum.
Fig. 21
Fig. 21. Ontogenetic development of the hyoid apparatus and topographical position of the larynx in the Pantherinae. The individual designated as ‘(sub)adult’ represents a lion. Arrow indicates the rotation within the Tympanohyoideum (T). S, Stylohyoideum; E, Epihyoideum; C, Ceratohyoideum; B, Basihyoideum; Th, Thyrohyoideum; Ct, Cartilago thyroidea.
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