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The bill tip organ of the chicken (Gallus gallus var. domesticus).

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  • 1. Agricultural and Food Research Council's Poultry Research Centre, Roslin, Midlothian, Scotland.
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    • Gentle MJ 1
    (1 author)

Journal of Anatomy, 01 Apr 1986, 145:79-85
PMID: 3429310 PMCID: PMC1166494

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Abstract 

At the tip of the lower beak of the chicken there were found 15-20 specialised dermal papillae containing large numbers of mechanoreceptors. The Merkel or Grandry corpuscles were situated distally in the papillae and at the papillae base was a collection of Herbst corpuscles. The apex of the papillae, under the scanning electron microscope, appeared as a row of shallow pits on the surface of the beak just inside the mouth. These papillae resemble similar structures seen in other birds and are probably necessary for fine tactile discrimination.

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Logo of janatLink to Publisher's site
J Anat. 1986 Apr; 145: 79–85.
PMCID: PMC1166494
PMID: 3429310

The bill tip organ of the chicken (Gallus gallus var. domesticus).

M J Gentle and J Breward
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Abstract

At the tip of the lower beak of the chicken there were found 15-20 specialised dermal papillae containing large numbers of mechanoreceptors. The Merkel or Grandry corpuscles were situated distally in the papillae and at the papillae base was a collection of Herbst corpuscles. The apex of the papillae, under the scanning electron microscope, appeared as a row of shallow pits on the surface of the beak just inside the mouth. These papillae resemble similar structures seen in other birds and are probably necessary for fine tactile discrimination.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
  • Andersen AE, Nafstad PH. An electron microscopic investigation of the sensory organs in the hard palate region of the hen (Gallus domesticus). Z Zellforsch Mikrosk Anat. 1968;91(3):391–401. [Abstract] [Google Scholar]
  • Desserich M, Fölsch DW, Ziswiler V. Das Schnabelkupieren bei Hühnern. Ein Eingriff im innervierten Bereich. Tierarztl Prax. 1984;12(2):191–202. [Abstract] [Google Scholar]
  • Gottschaldt KM, Lausmann S. The peripheral morphological basis of tactile sensibility in the beak of geese. Cell Tissue Res. 1974;153(4):477–496. [Abstract] [Google Scholar]
  • Gregory JE. An electrophysiological investigation of the receptor apparatus of the duck's bill. J Physiol. 1973 Feb;229(1):151–164. [Abstract] [Google Scholar]
  • Idé C, Munger BL. A cytologic study of Grandry corpuscle development in chicken toe skin. J Comp Neurol. 1978 May 15;179(2):301–324. [Abstract] [Google Scholar]
  • Leitner LM, Roumy M. Mechanosensitive units in the upper bill and in the tongue of the domestic duck. Pflugers Arch. 1974 Feb 4;346(2):141–150. [Abstract] [Google Scholar]
  • Leitner LM, Roumy M, Saxod R. Activités afférentes ayant leur origine au niveau du bec inférieur du canard domestique. C R Acad Sci Hebd Seances Acad Sci D. 1973 Nov 5;277(18):1909–1911. [Abstract] [Google Scholar]
  • Nafstad PH. Comparative ultrastructural study on Merkel cells and dermal basal cells in poultry (Gallus domesticus). Z Zellforsch Mikrosk Anat. 1971;116(3):342–348. [Abstract] [Google Scholar]
  • Saxod R. Ultrastructure of Merkel corpuscles and so-called "transitional" cells in the white Leghorn chicken. Am J Anat. 1978 Apr;151(4):453–473. [Abstract] [Google Scholar]
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