Tongue: Fungiform papillae
Fungiform papillae (mushroom-shaped) are rounded and reddish in appearance, because their relatively thin epithelium overlies a rich capillary network in the connective tissue core. A few, scattered taste buds may be present on the dorsum of these papillae, but none are visible in this section. Fungiform papillae are irregularly dispersed among the filiform papillae. 100x
Fungiform papillae
Fungiform papillae (mushroom-shaped) are rounded and reddish in appearance, because their relatively thin epithelium overlies a rich capillary network in the connective tissue core. A few, scattered taste buds may be present on the dorsum of these papillae, but none are visible in this section. Fungiform papillae are irregularly dispersed among the filiform papillae. 100x
- Keratinized epithelium
Fungiform papillae (mushroom-shaped) are rounded and reddish in appearance, because their relatively thin epithelium overlies a rich capillary network in the connective tissue core. A few, scattered taste buds may be present on the dorsum of these papillae, but none are visible in this section. Fungiform papillae are irregularly dispersed among the filiform papillae. 100x
- Connective tissue core
Fungiform papillae (mushroom-shaped) are rounded and reddish in appearance, because their relatively thin epithelium overlies a rich capillary network in the connective tissue core. A few, scattered taste buds may be present on the dorsum of these papillae, but none are visible in this section. Fungiform papillae are irregularly dispersed among the filiform papillae. 100x
Image source >
These images were taken of slides from the University of Mississippi and University of Michigan and collections.