Papillae of Tongue

Papillae of Tongue  : 

     The tongue is a muscular organ situated in the floor of the mouth . It associated with the function of  Taste,  Speech, chewing, deglutition . Tongue comprises skeletal muscle which is voluntary.

   Papillae are projections of mucus membrane or corium which gives the anterior (2/3) two - thrid of the tongue. Its has characteristic roughness . 

These are following three types : 

1. Vallate or circumvalate papillae : They are large in the size about 1-2 mm in diameter and 8-12 in number. They are situated in the front of sulcus terminalis. Each papillae is cylindrical projection surrounded by a circular sulcus. The wall of papillae have taste buds.  
2. The fungiform papillae : They are numerous near the tip and margin of the tongue . But some of them scattered over the dorsum . These are smaller than vallate papillae but larger than filiform papillae. They are distinguished by bright red colour. 
3. The filiform papillae or conical papillae : They are cover the presulcal area of the dorsum of tongue and give it a valvety apperance . They are smallest and most numerous of the lingual papillae.
4. Few palliate papillae are aslso present .