The dermal papillae are small, nipple-like protrusions of the dermis that reach into the epidermis, bringing food and oxygen to the lower layers of epidermal cells. In addition, a papilla nourishes every hair follicle. Rows of papillae protruding from the dermis into the epidermis form ridges that create patterns on the skin of the hands, feet, and body. These papillary ridges on the fingertips are responsible for fingerprints. These ridges develop sometime before birth. Not only is the pattern unique for each individual, but also it never changes except to grow larger. Research Dermal Papillae
The filiform papilla, or conical papilla, are the most numerous and various of the papilla on the tongue covering the front two-thirds of surface of the tongue. Many of the papilla are conical in shape, while others have frilled tips, with each branch of the tip being conical in shape. These papilla are not involved in the perception of taste. They do not appear to carry any taste buds, but rather have an abrasive function. Research Filiform Papilla
The foliate papilla, also referred to as the lateral organs, have leaf-like forms. They are found in clusters roughly in the middle of each side of the tongue. Generally, they are positioned just in front of the 'V' formation of the vallate papilla. These papilla are involved in the perception of taste and have taste buds located just below the surface. They respond predominantly to sourness. Research Foliate Papilla
The fungiform papilla are small, mushroom-shaped papilla with a deep-red colour. They are scattered irregularly over the surface of the tongue, but are predominantly found at the tip of the tongue and along the edges. These papilla are involved in the perception of taste and have taste buds located just below their surface. They respond only to sweet and salt tastes. Research Fungiform Papilla
The hair follicle is a tunnel-like segment of the epidermis that extends down into the dermis. The follicle is a thin sac of epidermal tissue with a bulb at the bottom. The hair follicles produce the hair. Every hair follicle is nourished by a papilla. Research Hair Follicle
The interdental papilla are the small projections of fleshy tissue between the teeth in the dental arch. These protruding portions of gingeva can often be pulled away from the tooth quite easily, as when cleaning the teeth, resulting in mild bleeding. Research Papilla
The different papilla on the tongue show some area-specific patterns of taste selectivity. There are four basic tastes: sweet, sour, salt, and bitter. The flavours that are tasted are actually combinations of the four tastes. The sides of the tongue tend to be sensitive to sour and salt closer to the apex. The tip tends to be sensitive to sweet, while the back of the tongue is most sensitive to bitter. The common experience that some sweet substances, such as saccharin, have a bitter aftertaste is partly a result of the area-specific patterns of taste. The sweet taste is experienced first, at the tip of the tongue, but is mixed with bitterness as the substance moves toward the back of the tongue. Research Taste
Taste buds are microscopic onion-shaped clusters of cells buried in the epidermal cell layer of the papilla, but do not protrude above the surface. The taste buds contain receptor cells that signal information about taste characteristics to the central nervous system. Each tastebud consists of about thirty to eighty nonnervous cells, many of which are connected to nerve endings. These cells sense the contents of the mouth via small, narrow gustatory pores. Taste buds are composed of three different types of cells. The type one cell, also called the dark cell, constitutes 60 to 80% of the cell total. It is believed by many researchers that these are not sensory cells, but act as a supporting system for the other cells. The type two cells (light cells), which constitute 15 to 30% of the cell total, and the type three cells, which constitute 7 to 14%, are considered the true taste receptors.
Taste buds are not confined to the tongue. A thin scattering of taste buds can be found in many parts of the mouth's mucousmembrane, including the epiglottis, pharynx, larynx, soft palate, and uvula. There are also taste buds on the upper third of the esophagus. Altogether, the average adult has about 10,000 taste buds. Research Taste Buds
The vallate papilla, sometimes called circumvallate, are the largest papilla found on the tongue. A person has an average of seven to twelve vallate papilla located on the upper surface towards the back of the tongue. The papilla generally are arranged in a 'V' shape pointing toward the throat. These papilla are involved in the perception of taste and have taste buds located on their tips. Each vallate papilla contains from 250 to 270 taste buds. Although later in life, after age 75, the total number of vallate papilla on the tongue's surface drops about 50%. These taste buds respond only to sour and bitter qualities. Research Vallate Papilla
Abbreviations
Research Dermal Papillae
