fungiform

Fungiform papillae are a type of taste papilla on the human tongue. They are small, mushroom-shaped projections, typically about 0.5 to 1.0 millimeter in diameter, scattered across the anterior two-thirds of the tongue among filiform papillae. They are most concentrated toward the tip and sides of the tongue and decrease in number toward the back.

Each fungiform papilla contains one to several taste buds within its epithelium. Taste receptor cells within these buds detect tastants and relay signals via gustatory sensory neurons, primarily through the chorda tympani branch of the facial nerve (cranial nerve VII). The papillae also receive general somatic innervation from the lingual nerve (cranial nerve V3) for touch and temperature. The papilla’s core contains connective tissue and a microvascular network that nourishes the taste buds.

Fungiform papillae contribute to taste perception across a range of modalities, and their density can influence overall taste sensitivity in individuals. They are more numerous on the anterior tongue than other types of gustatory papillae, such as circumvallate and foliate papillae. Changes in their number or function can occur with aging, smoking, medications, or certain oral conditions, and they are often used as markers in studies of gustation and tongue health.