MORPHOLOGICAL PECULIARITIES OF THE MACROSCOPIC SALIVARY GLANDS IN WILD BOAR (SUS SCROFA)

In wild mammals, the morphology of salivary glands is less known. Our observations were focused on macroscopic salivary glands (parotid, mandibular, sublingual, and buccal glands) of wild boar in order to reveal the particular aspects. The glands were studied on a head of a young (1.5-2 years old) wild boar (Sus scrofa) by dissection. It was found that all the macro-scopic salivary glands in this species are well deve-loped, more than in domestic pigs, but with a similar shape. For the parotid gland was remarked its thick-ness, an evident lobulation and a dark colour. The mandibular and sublingual glands are also well deve-loped, existing both monostomatic and polystomatic glands, the polystomatic one being more developed than the monostomatic one. The sublingual glands have a very dark colour. The buccal glands are also dark, both dorsal and ventral groups being well repre-sented. Regarding the path of the major salivary ducts, no significant peculiarities were observed. The researchers highlighted the higher importance of the salivary gland for digestion in this species due to their large development.