Neurohistologic observations of the Cebus apella monkeys soft palate mucosa

A neurohistological observation was done in the solf palate mucosa of the Cebus apella monkey. Six mucosa were employed and were removed after perfusion of each animal, with 10% formalin solution, through the external carotid artery of the right side. The mucosa was removed together with the muscular layer and salivary glands. The histologic analysis was performed and therefore the pieces were prepared by the "De Castro" technic of silver impregnation. The material was embedded in the vertical sense to allow frontal sections with the thickness of 8 micra. Our findings allow the following conclusions: a) the mucosa innervation of the soft palate is essencially done by the branches of the lesser palatine nerve; b) the free nerve endings of the soft palate mucosa have a great variation in the form and size and are abundant; c) the superficial fibres are related to the general sensibility and the deepest are directly connected to the innervation of the salivary glands.