Biomaterial Database

Axon populations in cat lingual and chorda tympani nerves. 1992

G R Holland, and P P Robinson

Department of Restorative Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.

The lingual and chorda tympani nerves from five cats were examined so that normal axonal populations could be determined. After perfusion fixation, the chorda tympani and lingual nerves were removed and processed, and sections were taken from individual and combined nerves for both light and electron microscopy. The chorda tympani remained as a distinct group of smaller axons for at least 4 mm distal to its junction with the lingual nerve. The mean number +/- S.D. of myelinated axons in the chorda tympani central to the junction was 1322 (+/- 268) and in the lingual nerve central to the junction, 3227 (+/- 510). The counts were not significantly different distal to the junction, and there were no side-to-side differences. Mean myelinated axon circumferences were significantly smaller in the chorda tympani (12.86 +/- 0.87) than in the lingual nerve (22.79 +/- 1.99; p less than 0.01). The mean size of axons in the chorda tympani was slightly but consistently larger on the left (13.1 +/- 0.73) than on the right side (12.61 +/- 1.01; p less than 0.05). Distal to the junction, the average proportion of non-myelinated axons was 44% in both chorda tympani and lingual nerves.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008036	Lingual Nerve	A sensory branch of the MANDIBULAR NERVE, which is part of the trigeminal (5th cranial) nerve. The lingual nerve carries general afferent fibers from the anterior two-thirds of the tongue, the floor of the mouth, and the mandibular gingivae.	Lingual Nerves,Nerve, Lingual,Nerves, Lingual
D009186	Myelin Sheath	The lipid-rich sheath surrounding AXONS in both the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEMS and PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM. The myelin sheath is an electrical insulator and allows faster and more energetically efficient conduction of impulses. The sheath is formed by the cell membranes of glial cells (SCHWANN CELLS in the peripheral and OLIGODENDROGLIA in the central nervous system). Deterioration of the sheath in DEMYELINATING DISEASES is a serious clinical problem.	Myelin,Myelin Sheaths,Sheath, Myelin,Sheaths, Myelin
D009413	Nerve Fibers, Myelinated	A class of nerve fibers as defined by their structure, specifically the nerve sheath arrangement. The AXONS of the myelinated nerve fibers are completely encased in a MYELIN SHEATH. They are fibers of relatively large and varied diameters. Their NEURAL CONDUCTION rates are faster than those of the unmyelinated nerve fibers (NERVE FIBERS, UNMYELINATED). Myelinated nerve fibers are present in somatic and autonomic nerves.	A Fibers,B Fibers,Fiber, Myelinated Nerve,Fibers, Myelinated Nerve,Myelinated Nerve Fiber,Myelinated Nerve Fibers,Nerve Fiber, Myelinated
D002415	Cats	The domestic cat, Felis catus, of the carnivore family FELIDAE, comprising over 30 different breeds. The domestic cat is descended primarily from the wild cat of Africa and extreme southwestern Asia. Though probably present in towns in Palestine as long ago as 7000 years, actual domestication occurred in Egypt about 4000 years ago. (From Walker's Mammals of the World, 6th ed, p801)	Felis catus,Felis domesticus,Domestic Cats,Felis domestica,Felis sylvestris catus,Cat,Cat, Domestic,Cats, Domestic,Domestic Cat
D002452	Cell Count	The number of CELLS of a specific kind, usually measured per unit volume or area of sample.	Cell Density,Cell Number,Cell Counts,Cell Densities,Cell Numbers,Count, Cell,Counts, Cell,Densities, Cell,Density, Cell,Number, Cell,Numbers, Cell
D002814	Chorda Tympani Nerve	A branch of the facial (7th cranial) nerve which passes through the middle ear and continues through the petrotympanic fissure. The chorda tympani nerve carries taste sensation from the anterior two-thirds of the tongue and conveys parasympathetic efferents to the salivary glands.	Chorda Tympani Nerves,Nerve, Chorda Tympani,Nerves, Chorda Tympani,Tympani Nerve, Chorda,Tympani Nerves, Chorda
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001369	Axons	Nerve fibers that are capable of rapidly conducting impulses away from the neuron cell body.	Axon
D012583	Schwann Cells	Neuroglial cells of the peripheral nervous system which form the insulating myelin sheaths of peripheral axons.	Schwann Cell,Cell, Schwann,Cells, Schwann