Taste buds

The 4 papillae of the tongue are filiform, fungiform, circumvallate, and foliate.

The 4 papillae of the tongue are filiform, fungiform, circumvallate, and foliate.
The filiform papillae are located on the entire tongue surface. They are the smallest and thinnest of all the papillae and have a hair-like appearance. In a healthy mouth they will be pink in color. Filiform papillae are most noticeable down the center of the tongue.
Fungiform papillae are located on the lateral border and tip of the tongue. They are broader, taller and fatter then filiform and are pink to red in color. Fungiform are the taste buds for sweet, salty, and sour. Fungiform are the broad, red papillae in this picture.
Papillae get bacteria and stain trapped in and around them easily. This is why cleaning your tongue is so important. The filiform papillae are stained in this picture. You will notice the fungiform papillae as the unstained white circles on the tongue.
Circumvallate papillae are located towards the back of the tongue. They are the largest of all the papillae. Most individuals have only 8 to 12 of this type of papillae. They are the taste buds for bitter. You can see them at the base of the tongue. They have a red, risen appearance.
Foliate papillae are located on the lateral border towards the back of the tongue. They appear flat and leaf-like. These type of papillae are hard to see since they flatten on the tongue's surface and are located so far back.
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