Question

Which of the following is an incorrect match?
a) Filiform papillae: Smallest and most numerous, found mainly in the center of the tongue
b) Fungiform papillae: Most numerous, near the base of the tongue
c) Foliate papillae: Not developed in the adult human tongue
d) Vallate papillae: Largest papillae, each surrounded by a circular groove

Answer 1

Hint: The rough texture on the tongue due to the presence of the little bumps. These tiny bumps present on the surface of the tongue are known as the papillae. There are many taste buds present on the surface of the papillae which help in the detection of the taste of the food we eat.

Complete step by step answer:
In the tongue, there are small papillae present on the surface of the tongue. These papillae are of four types: they are filiform papillae, fungiform papillae, foliate papillae, and vallate papillae. The filiform papillae are the smallest papillae amongst the four papillae. They are not limited to the center of the tongue but are present over the dorsal surface of the tongue in the scattered form. They do not contain taste buds on them. They help in the coating of the food. They are usually mushroom shaped in structure.

So, the answer is ‘filiform papillae: smallest and most numerous, found in the center of the tongue’.

Additional information: The fungiform papillae are present in abundance in the tongue. They have the presence of taste buds on their surfaces. They are also present in the mushroom shape and have deep red characteristic color. They are present mostly near the tip of the tongue.
-The foliate papillae are present in the three to four folds on the side of the tongue. They are soft red in color and have the presence of the taste buds in them. They sometimes contain lymphoid tissue and then appear yellowish in color.
-The vallate papillae usually carry taste buds on them. They have a dome-shaped structure present and their number may differ from the eight to twelve.

Note:
The papillae present on the surface of the tongue help in the testing of the food material. They also help in the coating of the food. They are little projections present on the surface of the tongue and they give a rough texture to the tongue.