Anatomy of the Intermandibular Region of the Philippine Water Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis L.) (Artiodactyla: Bovidae)

The intermandibular region of the Philippine water buffalo was long and narrow measuring approximately 28.0-30.0 cm long, 2.0-4.0 cm wide caudally, 7.0-10.0 cm wide at the middle and 11.0-15.0 cm wide caudally. The skin was 1.0 to 1.5 cm thick rostrally, 0.4-1.0 cm thick at the middle and 0.2-0.4 cm thick caudally. The hairs were oriented slightly mediocaudally and measured 3.5-5.0 cm long caudally and 1.5-2.5 cm long rostrally. Superficially, the caudal third of the intermandibular region was occupied by the sternomandibularis, omohyoideus and sternohyoideus muscles and in the rostral two-thirds by in mylohyoideus muscle. Deep in the caudo-lateral part of the intermandibular region was the digastricus muscle consisting of rostral and caudal belies and their intervening tendon. The latter showed some degree of muscular development. The intermediate tendon was divided into a larger dorsal tendon which joined the long dorsal part of the rostral belly rostrally and a smaller ventral tendon which connected with the short ventral part of the rostral belly of the digastricus. The geniohyoideus muscle, lingual nerve, mylohyoid nerve, the mandibular and sublingual salivary glands and their ducts showed no striking features. The intermandibular region was largely occupied by the massive tongue which measured 30.0-35.0 cm long, 1.5-2.0 cm thick at the apex, 5.0-5.5 cm thick at the body and 7.0-8.0 cm thick at the torus linguae. The present observations will be of great importance when considering the intermandibular region as an alternative approach to intraoral surgery in the Philippine water buffalo.