The key difference between fungiform and filiform papillae is that fungiform papillae are a type of club-shaped lingual papillae found on the tip of the tongue, while filiform papillae are a type of cone-shaped lingual papillae found on the anterior surface of the tongue.
Lingual papillae are small structures that are on the upper surface of the tongue, giving a characteristic rough texture to the tongue. The lingual epithelium is made up of four types of tongue papillae: circumvallate, fungiform, filiform, and foliate. Normally, these papillae provide mechanical and taste functions. However, the shape, size, and organization of these papillae vary according to the type. Except for filiform papillae, all others are associated with taste buds.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What are Fungiform Papillae
3. What are Filiform Papillae
4. Similarities – Fungiform and Filiform Papillae
5. Fungiform vs. Filiform Papillae in Tabular Form
6. FAQ – Fungiform and Filiform Papillae
7. Summary – Fungiform vs. Filiform Papillae
What are Fungiform Papillae?
Fungiform papillae are a type of lingual papillae found on the tip of the tongue. They are club-shaped papillae and red in color. They can also be found on the sides of the tongue. Usually, fungiform papillae are scattered amongst filiform papillae.
Fungiform papillae have taste buds on their upper surface and can distinguish the five tastes: sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and umami. They have a core of connective tissue as well. Furthermore, fungiform papillae are innervated by the seventh cranial nerve through the submandibular ganglion, chorda tympani, and geniculate ganglion, which normally ascend to the solitary nucleus in the brainstem.
What are Filiform Papillae?
Filiform papillae are the most common type of lingual papillae. They are small, fine, and cone-shaped papillae. Filiform papillae are found on the anterior surface of the tongue. These papillae are responsible for giving a rough texture to the tongue and are also responsible for the sensation of touch. However, they do not contain taste buds.
Moreover, these papillae appear as small, conical, or cylindrical surface projections arranged in rows. They lie parallel to the sulcus terminalis. Filiform papillae have a whitish tint as well. Furthermore, they are made up of irregular connective tissue cores with keratin-containing epithelium that is rich in fine secondary threads. In addition, filiform papillae also contain a number of elastic fibers. This gives them a firmer and more elastic nature compared to other types of papillae.
What are the Similarities Between Fungiform and Filiform Papillae?
- Fungiform and filiform papillae are two different types of lingual papillae on the tongue.
- Fungiform papillae are scattered amongst the filiform papillae.
- Both types give a rough texture to the tongue.
- They have a core of connective tissue.
What is the Difference Between Fungiform and Filiform Papillae?
Fungiform papillae are club-shaped lingual papillae found on the tip of the tongue, while filiform papillae are cone-shaped lingual papillae found on the anterior surface of the tongue. Thus, this is the key difference between fungiform and filiform papillae. Furthermore, fungiform papillae contain taste buds, while filiform papillae do not contain taste buds.
The infographic below presents the differences between fungiform and filiform papillae in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.
FAQ: Fungiform and Filiform Papillae
What is the function of the filiform papillae?
Filiform papillae give the tongue its texture and help with the sensation of touch.
Do filiform papillae have taste buds?
Filiform papillae do not have taste buds.
Which is the largest papillae in the tongue?
Vallate papillae or circumvallate papillae are the largest papillae out of four known papillae.
Summary – Fungiform vs. Filiform Papillae
The four types of lingual papillae are circumvallate, fungiform, filiform, and foliate. Fungiform papillae are a less common type of lingual papillae, which are club-shaped and found on the tip of the tongue. Filiform papillae are the most common type of lingual papillae that are cone-shaped and found on the anterior surface of the tongue. Furthermore, fungiform papillae contain taste buds, while filiform papillae do not contain taste buds. So, this summarizes the difference between fungiform and filiform papillae.
Reference:
1. Benetti EJ; Pícoli LC; Guimarães JP; Motoyama AA; Miglino MA; Watanabe LS; “Characteristics of Filiform, Fungiform and Vallate Papillae and Surface of Interface Epithelium-Connective Tissue of the Maned Sloth Tongue Mucosa (Bradypus Torquatus, Iliger, 1811): Light and Scanning Electron Microscopy Study.” Anatomia, Histologia, Embryologia, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
2. Sönmez, Mehmet Fatih, et al. “Filiform Papillae Do Not Have Taste Buds.” Brazilian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Papillae on tongue” By derivative work: Kjell ANDRÉ (talk)Kieli.svg: Antimoni – Kieli.svg (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia