Fungiform papilla

Fungiform papilla
The mouth cavity. The cheeks have been slit transversely and the tongue pulled forward.
Section of a fungiform papilla. Magnified.
Latin papillae fungiformes
Gray's subject #242 1126
Code TH H3.04.01.0.03005

The fungiform papillae are mushroom shaped papillae (projections) on the tongue. They are located on the top (dorsal) surface of the tongue, scattered throughout the filiform papilla but mainly at the tip and lateral margins of the tongue. They have taste buds on their superior (upper) surface which can distinguish the five tastes: sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and umami. They have a core of connective tissue. They are innervated by the seventh cranial nerve, more specifically via the submandibular ganglion, chorda tympani, and geniculate ganglion ascending to the solitary nucleus (the sensory component of the Vagus nerve in the brainstem).

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