Lingual papillae

Filiform papilla, magnified.

Filiform papillae are the most numerous of the lingual papillae.[1] They are fine, small, cone-shaped papillae found on the anterior surface of the tongue.[3] They are responsible for giving the tongue its texture and are responsible for the sensation of touch. Unlike the other kinds of papillae, filiform papillae do not contain taste buds.[1] They cover most of the front two-thirds of the tongue's surface.[2]

They appear as very small, conical or cylindrical surface projections,[2] and are arranged in rows which lie parallel to the sulcus terminalis. At the tip of the tongue, these rows become more transverse.[2]

Histologically, they are made up of irregular connective tissue cores with a keratin–containing epithelium which has fine secondary threads.[2] Heavy keratinization of filiform papillae, occurring for instance in cats, gives the tongue a roughness that is characteristic of these animals.

These papillae have a whitish tint, owing to the thickness and density of their epithelium. This epithelium has undergone a peculiar modification as the cells have become cone–like and elongated into dense, overlapping, brush-like threads. They also contain a number of elastic fibers, which render them firmer and more elastic than the other types of papillae. The larger and longer papillae of this group are sometimes termed papillae conicae.

Fungiform papillae, magnified and sectional diagram.

The fungiform papillae are club shaped projections on the tongue, generally red in color. They are found on the tip of the tongue, scattered amongst the filiform papillae but are mostly present on the tip and sides of the tongue. They have taste buds on their upper surface which can distinguish the five tastes: sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and umami. They have a core of connective tissue. The fungiform papillae are innervated by the seventh cranial nerve, more specifically via the submandibular ganglion, chorda tympani, and geniculate ganglion ascending to the solitary nucleus in the brainstem.

Magnified diagram of a vertical section through some foliate papillae in a rabbit.

Foliate papillae are short vertical folds and are present on each side of the tongue.[2] They are located on the sides at the back of the tongue, just in front of the palatoglossal arch of the fauces,[4][2] There are four or five vertical folds,[2] and their size and shape is variable.[4] The foliate papillae appear as a series of red colored, leaf–like ridges of mucosa.[2] They are covered with epithelium, lack keratin and so are softer, and bear many taste buds.[2] They are usually bilaterally symmetrical. Sometimes they appear small and inconspicuous, and at other times they are prominent. Because their location is a high risk site for oral cancer, and their tendency to occasionally swell, they may be mistaken as tumors or inflammatory disease. Taste buds, the receptors of the gustatory sense, are scattered over the mucous membrane of their surface. Serous glands drain into the folds and clean the taste buds. Lingual tonsils are found immediately behind the foliate papillae and, when hyperplastic, cause a prominence of the papillae.

Circumvallate papilla in vertical section, showing arrangement of the taste-buds and nerves

The circumvallate papillae (or vallate papillae) are dome-shaped structures on the human tongue that vary in number from 8 to 12. They are situated on the surface of the tongue immediately in front of the foramen cecum and sulcus terminalis, forming a row on either side; the two rows run backward and medially, and meet in the midline. Each papillae consists of a projection of mucous membrane from 1 to 2 mm. wide, attached to the bottom of a circular depression of the mucous membrane; the margin of the depression is elevated to form a wall (vallum), and between this and the papilla is a circular sulcus termed the fossa. The papilla is shaped like a truncated cone, the smaller end being directed downward and attached to the tongue, the broader part or base projecting a little above the surface of the tongue and being studded with numerous small secondary papillae and covered by stratified squamous epithelium. Ducts of lingual salivary glands, known as Von Ebner's glands empty a serous secretion into the base of the circular depression, which acts like a moat. The function of the secretion is presumed to flush materials from the base of circular depression to ensure that taste buds can respond to changing stimuli rapidly.[5] The circumvallate papillae get special afferent taste innervation from cranial nerve IX, the glossopharyngeal nerve, even though they are anterior to the sulcus terminalis. The rest of the anterior two-thirds of the tongue gets taste innervation from the chorda tympani of cranial nerve VII, distributed with the lingual nerve of cranial nerve V.

In some diseases, there can be depapillation of the tongue, where the lingual papillae are lost, leaving a smooth, red and possibly sore area. Examples of depapillating oral conditions include geographic tongue, median rhomboid glossitis and other types of glossitis. The term glossitis, particularly atrophic glossitis is often used synonymously with depapillation. Where the entire dorsal surface of the tongue has lost its papillae, this is sometimes termed "bald tongue".[4] Nutritional deficiencies of iron, folic acid, and B vitamins may cause depapillation of the tongue.[4]

Papillitis refers to inflammation of the papillae, and sometimes the term hypertrophy is used interchangeably.

In foliate papillitis the foliate papillae appear swollen. This may occur due to mechanical irritation, or as a reaction to an upper respiratory tract infection.[4] Other sources state that foliate papilitis refers to inflammation of the lingual tonsil, which is lymphoid tissue.[6]

The term lingual is derived from the Latin word lingua meaning "tongue" or "speech". Papilla is from Latin, meaning "nipple".

Vallate (pronounced /ˈvæleɪt/ VAL-ayt) is from the Latin word vallum (rampart, wall), and means "having a raised edge surrounding a depression". This refers to the circular mucosal elevation which surrounds the circumvallate papillae.

Fungiform (pronounced /ˈfʌndʒɪfɔːrm/ FUN-jif-orm) is from the Latin words fungus (mushroom) and forma, and means "shaped like a mushroom or fungus".

Foliate (pronounced /ˈfoʊliət/ FOH-lee-ət) is from the Latin word foliatus (leafy), and means "shaped like a leaf".

Filiform (pronounced /ˈfɪlɪfɔːrm/ FIL-if-orm) is from the Latin word filum (thread), and means "shaped like a filament or thread".