SENSE OF TASTE. 403 



ical papillae which are everywhere met with, and of which 



we spoke in relation to the sense of touch, we find two some- 



what peculiar forms of papillae, the fungiform^ and the 



circumvallate (Fig. 103). 



The fungiform papillae 



somewhat resemble a 



mushroom, having a short 



pedicle, and a globular 



head, in which the dermis 



forms a number of second- 



ary papilla?, resting in a 



bed of epithelium, with 



which the organ is uni- 



formly covered (Fig. 103, 



B.). The circumvallate 



papillae resemble these, 



though they are wider and 



flatter, and are imbedded 



in an excavation in the 



mucous tissue (calices), be- F te- m -Lingruai papilla. (Todd 



, ... andBowmau.)* 



yond which they scarcely 



project at all; they also exhibit a number of secondary 

 papillae, covered by the epithelium (Fig. 103, C.). A number 

 of nerve filaments terminate in these papillae, but whether by 

 true extremities, by corpuscles similar to those of touch, or 

 by union of the epithelial cells, remains still undecided. 1 



These papillae are placed upon the back of the tongue, the 

 fungiform being arranged in the form of a quincunx along 

 the sides of this organ ; their number varies in different per- 

 sons, the circumvallate or large papillae are arranged in two 

 rows, which meet at the base of the tongue (foramen caecum), 

 in a form like that made by the union of the two arms in the 

 letter V (Fig. 104). 



We have already remarked that the sense of taste resides 

 only in those parts in which these papillae, especially the cir- 

 cumvallate, are found, that is, at the base of the tongue ; for 

 this reason, tastes are most clearly perceived, and in the most 

 agreeable manner, at the commencement of deglutition, when 

 the alimentary substances come in contact with the V-shaped 

 row. This row of large papillce appears to be the special 

 seat of the impression produced, especially when made by 



1 See Art. Gout, in Vol. XVI. of the " Nouveau Diet, de Mdd. 

 etde Chirur. Pratiques." 1872. 



* A, Filiform papi^-i. B, Fungiform papilla. C, Circumvallate papilla. 



