GOBLET PAPILLAE: CHARACTERISTICS, FUNCTIONS, HISTOLOGY - BIOLOGY - 2025

The vallated, also called Circumvallate papillae are located on the back of the tongue, in the closest region to the throat. They are the largest lingual papillae and the most specialized as taste buds.

These papillae are so large that they can be seen with the naked eye, but they are also the least numerous in the lingual epithelium. They are found in a variable number, between 7 to 12, distributed in two lines in the shape of an inverted V.

By Antimoni (Derivative work of the user Antimoni), via Wikimedia Commons

All goblet papillae contain taste buds, which represent the functional unit of the sense of taste. These papillae, which are in very low number, contain approximately 40% of the total taste buds, becoming the most important taste buds for detecting flavors.

The epithelial tissue that surrounds the taste buds tends to invaginate, forming a groove around it, in which the compounds that make up food that have been dissolved in saliva are deposited, interacting with the receptors and triggering the process of transduction of taste signals.

characteristics

Shape

Goblet papillae, also called circumvallate, have the shape of an inverted truncated cone, with the apex down, attached to the epithelium of the tongue.

The widest part, which projects onto the surface of the tongue, exposed to the oral cavity, contains numerous secondary papillae or taste buds. Due to this appearance of a chalice, it has been assigned the name of goblet.

Size

They are the largest lingual papillae, and their size can vary between 1.5 to 3 mm in diameter. The largest is located in the center, at the vertex of the lingual V. They are all very vascular.

The goblet papillae are well delimited in their space, raised above the mucosa and arranged symmetrically on both sides.

Squamous epithelium

Each circumvallate papilla is surrounded by non-keratinized squamous epithelium, which forms a horseshoe-shaped invagination.

Towards this deep circular groove-like cleft bordering the circumvallate papilla, the taste buds are exposed on the outer walls, opening into the groove supplied by the lingual salivary glands of Von Ebner.

Number

The number of circumvalate papillae present in an individual can be influenced by gender, culture, and genetics. Generally, the number of taste buds on the circumvalate papillae ranges from 250 to 270, located on the lateral walls of the papillae.

Forming these buttons are two types of cells, some that border the structure and serve as support to the rest of the structure, and the second type that are sensory cells, which receive the stimulus and connect with the nerve fibers to carry the message. to the brain.

A taste bud can contain 40 to 60 sensory cells within the stratified papillary epithelium.

With aging, the number of taste buds on the bypass papillae decreases. As a consequence, the ability to taste is also reduced. In addition, regular exposure to nicotine damages the taste buds, also affecting the sense of taste.

Author's own picture. Digital camera shot of human circumvallate papillae through a microscope.

Transferred from en.wikipedia to Commons by FastilyClone using MTC !.

commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Circuvallate_papilla.JPG

Histology

The circumvallate papillae are made up of several layers of cellular tissues. A layer of stratified and keratinized squamous epithelium is found on the superficial covering of the papilla.

Additionally, they are lined by a layer of non-keratinized epithelial cells on the lateral surface, and finally taste buds are found on the non-keratinized lateral surface and towards the center.

Connective tissues are found in the central region of the papillae, and under this tissue are located secondary salivary glands, the Von Ebner glands.

The salivary glands of Von Ebner, of lingual location, produce serous secretions, which discharge into the sulcus that surrounds the goblet papillae. They are attributed an active role in sensory perception as well as maintenance and protection of the epithelium of the papillae.

All the cells that make up the papillae are continually replaced by proliferation of epithelial cells.

Due to their location, the goblet papillae are innervated by the glossopharyngeal nerve, which is the nerve present in the posterior third of the tongue. This nerve also involves the sensory, motor, and parasympathetic components of the region.

Features

The circumvallate papillae are chemoreceptors. With contact with a substance that functions as a stimulus, they act as receptors that transmit that signal received from a chemical compound and transform it into an action potential that is transmitted to the nerve fibers to reach the brain.

Unpleasant flavors are identified with the bypass papillae, before their passage to the digestive system via the throat. Thus, it is possible to restrict the intake of any substance that is poisonous or has a disgusting taste. They have also been attributed a role in contributing to the nausea and vomiting reflex.

Possible diseases or disorders

Papillary hypertrophy and papillitis are benign processes. They can be a reason for consultation, patient concern or cosmetic problems, however, they usually do not represent a serious health problem.

Tongue papillae can be frequently altered, either due to tongue diseases or as a symptom of other underlying diseases. There are various types of papillary alterations, among which are:

Glossitis

The tongue appears swollen and inflamed, and there may be a depapilation of the tongue during which the lingual papillae are lost. This condition can cause difficulty chewing and speaking, and usually presents with pain.

Papillitis

This is another clinical complication related to inflammation of the papillae. In this situation, the papillae appear swollen.

The inflammation and enlargement of the papillae can be due to several causes, such as viral infections, medications, excessive consumption of spicy, very salty or hot food, mouth ulcers, consumption of toxic substances, allergies to certain foods, oral cancer, among other circumstances that can cause disorders

In papillitis of the circumvalate papillae, signs of hypertrophy appear and appear reddened. Routinely, hypertrophy appears due to the consumption of excessively hot foods, or with very strong flavors (bitter, acidic or salty). This condition is not of much pathological relevance.

References

1. Morales JM, Mingo EM, Caro MA (2014) Physiology of taste. ENT training. Virtual training book in otorhinolaryngology. Available at: booksmedicos.org.pdf
2. Circumvallate Papillae (2009). In: Binder MD, Hirokawa N., Windhorst U. (eds) Encyclopedia of Neuroscience. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
3. Circumvallate Papillae. Health diseases. Available at: healthdiseases.org.
4. How does our sense of taste work? Available at: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.
5. Gravina S., Yep G., Khan M. (2013) Human Biology of Taste. Annals of Saudi Medicine. 33: 217-222.
6. Vicals Iglesia H, Caballero R, Sabater MM. (1996) Hypertrophy of the lingual papillae. Av Odontoestomatol; 12: 247-255