This document summarizes the structure and function of the oral mucosa on the tongue. It describes the four main types of papillae on the tongue - fungiform, filiform, foliate, and circumvallate - and their locations and characteristics. It also discusses taste buds, noting that they are located within the papillae and contain receptor cells that detect different tastes like sweet, salty, bitter and sour in different regions of the tongue. The document outlines how taste signals are transmitted via cranial nerves to the brain for perception of flavor.

1. ORAL
MUCOSA
BY
M HARIHARAN
BDS 1ST YRS
JKKN DENTAL COLLAGE & HOSPITAL

2. • The superior surface of the tongue is rough
and irregular(covers the dorsum of the tongue).
• Although it is masticatory mucosa.
• By function but due to its high extensibility &
lingual papillae,it is classified as “specialized
mucosa”.
SPECIALIZED MUCOSA

3. These are the small nipple or hair-like structures
on the upper surface of the tongue .
 The anterior part-”papillary”
posterior part- “lymphatic”
That give the tongue its characteristic rough
texture.
 Four types of papillae
 fungiform papillae
 filiform
 foliate
circumvallate
Anterior two-thitds are supplied by the trigeminal
nerve through its lingual branch &the posterior
one-third by the glossopharyngeal nerve.
Lingual Mucosa

4. Lingual mucosa

5.  Fungus-like appearance (mushroom-shaped).
 Location-present on tip & sides of tongue.
 Non-keratinized epithelium-round.
 Reddish prominences.
 Their color is derived from a rich capillary network
visible through the relatively thin epithelium.
Only few taste buds found on their dorsal
surface.
Fungiform papillae

6. Fungiform

7. o Hair-like appearance.
o Location-entire anterior part of tongue.
o Keratinized epithelium-cone shaped.
o Function-though surface involved in
compressing & breaking of food.
o When tongue is apposed to hard palate.
Filiform papillae

8. Filiform

9.  Leaf-like appearance.
Location-it’s present on lateral marginal of
posterior part of tongue.
They contains taste buds.
Foliate papillae/Marginal
papillae

10. Foliate

11. • In front of the dividing V-shaped terminal
sulcus,between the body & the base of the tongue.
• 8-10 in number.
• The ducts of small serous gland called “von
Ebner’s glands”open into the trough.
• They may serve to wash out the soluble element of
food & are the main source of salivary lipase.
• Keratinized epithelium-superior surface
non-keratinized epithelium-lateral surface.
• On the lateral surface of the vallate papillae,the
epithelium contain numerous taste buds.
Circumvallate papillae

12. Circumvallate

13. Taste buds are small ovoid or barrel-shaped
intrapithelial organ.
80μm-high,40μm-thick.
Their outer surface is almost covered by a few flat
epithelial cells,which surroun a small opening,the
taste pore(a test bud may have more than one
taste pore).
Its leads into a narrow space lined by the
supporting cells of the taste buds.
The outer supporting cells are arranged like the
staves of barrel.
Taste buds

14. Taste bud

15. The inner &shorter ones are spindle shaped.
They are slender ,dark-staining cells that carry
finger-like processes at their superficial end.
Finger-like processes-ultrastructural level
hair-microscope.
Taste buds are
 vallate papillae-numerous on the inner wall of the
trough surrounding .
Foliate papillae-folds.
Epiglottis-posterior surface
Fungiform papillae-tip & lateral border of tongue.
Taste buds

16. Taste sensation
sweet----------tip
salty -----------lateral border of the tongue.
Bitter
on the palate
sour
Bitter-on middle,sour-lateral area of tongue.
Vallate papillae-bitter
foliate papillae-sour
fungiform papillae-tip of sweet& border of salty.
Taste buds

17. Teste sensation of
bitter & sour- glossopharyngeal nerve
sweet & salty-chorda tympani.
Taste occurs when a chemical substance contain
a receptor cell in the taste buds.
The reception of chemical substance fires the
nerve fiber.
Lingual follicle-posterior to the terminal sulcus, the
surface of the tongue is irregularly studded with
round or oval prominence.
Each of these shows one or more lymph nodules,
something containing a germinal center.
The lingual follicle form the lingual tonsil.
Taste buds

18. THANK YOU