GROSS ANATOMY

Detailed explanation-1: -On 320 fungiform (gustatory) papillae, an average of about 3.5 taste buds per papilla has been estimated for a total of 1120 fungiform taste buds (Miller and Reedy, 1990a, b) (Table 10.1). There are also papillae without taste buds, which rarely occur in other mammals (Mistretta and Baum, 1984).

Detailed explanation-2: -A total of 262 taste buds, an average of 1.4 per papilla, were found. However, there was considerable variation in the occurrence of taste buds, both from papilla to papilla and from case to case.

Detailed explanation-3: -Circumvallate papillae are located towards the back of the tongue, and unlike fungiform papilla, they each contain more than 100 taste buds.

Detailed explanation-4: -There are four types of papillae: Circumvallate, fungiform, foliate and filiform. Taste buds are present on all of these, except filiform papillae.

Detailed explanation-5: -Taste buds appear at the apex of fungiform papillae on the anterior tongue and along trench walls of foliate and circumvallate papillae on the posterior tongue. Taste buds are also found on the soft palate and the epiglottis.