Miller I J, Preslar A J
Anat Rec. 1975 Mar;181(3):679-84. doi: 10.1002/ar.1091810309.
The objective of this study was to determine the spatial distribution of fungiform papillae on the rat's tongue. Since each fungiform papilla in the rat has a single taste bud, the spatial distribution of fungiform papillae is equivalent to the location of taste buds on the anterior tongue. A mean total number of 187 fungiform papillae per tongue were found which were about equally divided between the two lateral halves of the tongue. Over 50% of the total number of fungiform papillae were located on the tongue tip for an average density of 3.4 papillae/mm2,while the dorsal surface of the tongue had an average density of 1.3 papillae/mm2 of tongue surface. Papillae were absent on the dorsal midline, but a paracentral line of papillae running from anterior to posterior was a consistent finding. Though not identical, the distribution of papillae was essentially the same on different tongues. The functional significance of the papilla distribution is not understood, but electrophysiological experiments show evidence of neural interaction of papillae which are clustered together. The distribution of papillae and the distribution of nerve fibers which innervate them must be evaluated together in order to appreciate the significance of the distribution of fungiform papillae and their associated taste buds.
本研究的目的是确定大鼠舌头上菌状乳头的空间分布。由于大鼠的每个菌状乳头都有一个味蕾，菌状乳头的空间分布等同于舌前部味蕾的位置。发现每只大鼠舌头的菌状乳头平均总数为187个，且大致均匀地分布在舌头的左右两侧。超过50%的菌状乳头总数位于舌尖，平均密度为3.4个乳头/平方毫米，而舌背表面的平均密度为1.3个乳头/平方毫米舌面。舌背中线没有乳头，但从前到后有一条位于中心旁的乳头线是一个始终存在的现象。尽管不同舌头的乳头分布不完全相同，但基本相似。乳头分布的功能意义尚不清楚，但电生理实验表明聚集在一起的乳头存在神经相互作用的证据。为了理解菌状乳头及其相关味蕾分布的意义，必须同时评估乳头的分布和支配它们的神经纤维的分布。
