Lingual papillae

Papillae linguales

Also known as: papillae, circumvallate papillae, vallate papillae, fungiform papillae, foliate papillae, filiform papillae, von Ebner glands

Projections of the mucosa on the dorsum of the anterior two-thirds of the tongue — filiform (no taste buds), fungiform, foliate and circumvallate (with taste buds) — that give the tongue its rough texture and carry most taste buds.

Show on body map Smell and Taste — Chemoreceptors

Overview

Circumvallate papillae8–12

Taste buds per circumvallate papillaUp to ≈250

Papillae without taste budsFiliform

The papillae lie on the presulcal (oral) part of the tongue, in front of the V-shaped sulcus terminalis; the postsulcal (pharyngeal) part has no papillae but bears the lingual tonsil. There are four types:

Filiform papillae — the most numerous, slender, conical and keratinised (whitish), arranged in rows parallel to the sulcus terminalis. They contain no taste buds; they increase friction to manipulate food and carry touch receptors. Fungiform papillae — mushroom-shaped, scattered among the filiform, most numerous at the tip and sides; they look like red dots (thin non-keratinised epithelium over a vascular core). Each carries 0 to ≈15 taste buds (average a few) on its upper surface; innervated by the chorda tympani (VII). Foliate papillae — 4–5 vertical leaf-like folds on each posterolateral margin of the tongue near the sulcus terminalis; taste buds line the clefts; prominent in children, less so in adults; innervated by IX (posterior) and VII (anterior). Circumvallate (vallate) papillae — 8–12 large (1–3 mm) flat-topped papillae in a V-shaped row immediately in front of the sulcus terminalis. Each is sunk below the surface and surrounded by a deep trench (vallum); hundreds of taste buds (up to ≈250 each) line their side walls, and serous von Ebner glands open into the base of the trench, washing tastants away so new stimuli can be detected. Despite lying in front of the sulcus terminalis, they are innervated by the glossopharyngeal nerve (IX).

Location: Dorsum of the anterior (presulcal) two-thirds of the tongue; circumvallate row just anterior to the sulcus terminalis; foliate on the posterolateral margins.

Parts & subdivisions

Filiform papillae
Most numerous; keratinised; no taste buds; mechanical/tactile function.
Fungiform papillae
Mushroom-shaped; tip and sides of anterior tongue; few taste buds each (on top); chorda tympani (VII).
Foliate papillae
Parallel folds on posterolateral margins; taste buds in the clefts; IX and VII.
Circumvallate papillae
8–12, in a V before the sulcus terminalis; up to ≈250 taste buds each in the trench walls; von Ebner glands; glossopharyngeal nerve (IX).

Anatomy

Innervation: Taste: chorda tympani (VII) for fungiform and anterior foliate; glossopharyngeal (IX) for circumvallate and posterior foliate. General sensation: lingual nerve (V3) for the anterior two-thirds; IX for the posterior third.
Histology: Stratified squamous epithelium (keratinised on filiform, non-keratinised elsewhere) over connective-tissue cores; von Ebner serous glands in the underlying muscle around circumvallate papillae.
Development: Fungiform and filiform papillae form from the ectoderm-covered anterior tongue (first arch derivatives) from ≈week 10; circumvallate and foliate papillae form near the border with the posterior tongue.

Function

Carry taste buds (fungiform, foliate, circumvallate)
Increase friction and grip on food (filiform)
Clear tastants from taste buds (von Ebner gland secretion; also lingual lipase)

Clinical significance

Coated and hairy tongue

Overgrowth of filiform papillae (poor oral hygiene, antibiotics, smoking) gives a black hairy tongue; atrophy of papillae produces a smooth, red, sore tongue (atrophic glossitis) in iron, vitamin B12 or folate deficiency.

Geographic tongue

Benign migratory glossitis: shifting map-like red patches where filiform papillae are lost, with white borders; may cause sensitivity to spicy food.

Circumvallate papillae mistaken for lesions

Patients sometimes notice their large posterior circumvallate papillae and worry about tumours — a normal finding.

Mnemonics

Which papillae taste?

"Filiform = Feel only" — all others (fungiform, foliate, circumvallate) have taste buds.

Test yourself

Which lingual papillae lack taste buds?

Fungiform
Filiform
Foliate
Circumvallate

Answer: Filiform

Filiform papillae — the most numerous — are keratinised and purely mechanical/tactile. Fungiform, foliate and circumvallate papillae carry taste buds.

Taste from the circumvallate papillae is carried by which nerve?

Glossopharyngeal nerve (IX)
Chorda tympani (VII)
Lingual nerve (V3)
Hypoglossal nerve (XII)

Answer: Glossopharyngeal nerve (IX)

Although the circumvallate papillae lie just anterior to the sulcus terminalis, their taste buds are supplied by the glossopharyngeal nerve, which carries taste and general sensation from the posterior third of the tongue.