Papillae filiformes



Papillae filiformes, or filiform papillae, are protrusions of the mucous membrane (epithelium and lamina propria mucosae) located on the entire dorsal surface of the tongue. The papillae have an elongated conical shape and a diameter of only a few tenths of a millimeter, thin secondary papillae often extend from their apical area. There is a keratinized epithelium on their surface, they significantly keratinize and desquamate (peel off). Macroscopically, they can be seen as conical white patches on the entire surface of the tongue.

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Practicing histological preparations
 * Dorsum linguae (picture)
 * Papillae filiformes (picture)
 * Tongue
 * Exercise: Digestive system