Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Fungiform papillae
Introduction
Overview
Overview
The fungiform papillae are mushroom shaped papillae (projections) on the tongue. They are located on the top surface of the tongue, scattered throughout the filiform papilla but mainly at the tip and lateral margins of the tongue. They have taste buds on their superior (upper) surface which can distinguish the five tastes: sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and umami. They have a core of connective tissue and the seventh cranial nerve innervates them.
The reason people think that different things taste different is because the more taste buds that you have the stronger the tastes such as saltiness, bitterness, ect. taste that you get. Some foods may taste better with stronger taste buds while other would with taste buds that aren’t as strong. Things that affect the strength in taste buds are tongue piercings, age, and smoking.
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]