Tongue- This organ is a mass of interwoven, striated muscle tissue, interspersed with glands and fat and covered with a mucous membrane. Stained with Mallory trichrome stain, which contains three components- aniline blue, acid fuchsin, and orange G. As striated muscle, human tongue muscle usually stains red, due to the orange G component of stain.

The tongue is divided in to dorsal and ventral surface. The dorsal surface is a stratified squamous keratinized epithelium which is characterized by numerous mucosal projections called papilla e. The ventral surface is stratified squamous non-keratinized epithelium which is smooth.

Tongue section- showing lingual papillae, taste buds, striated muscles, gustatory pore.

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The top surface bears numerous projections of the mucous membrane, called papillae, which contain taste buds.

Oral Part exhibit lingual papillae of the various types

Filiform papillae- Most numerous, appears short conical projections that give rise to velvety appearance of the tongue, but they are not involved in taste sensation.

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Fungiform papillae- Rounded reddish elevations with high vascular connective tissue core, with narrow base and broad top. each bears a few taste buds

Vallate papillae- broad circular top and narrow base. Lined by stratified squamous non-keratinized epithelium. Base of each papillae contains circular and longitudinal muscle fibers.

Foliate papillae- leaf like Rudimentary in humans. It is functional in lower animals

Taste buds- Made up of modified epithelial cells. Each bud has cavity which opens on the surface through gustatory pore.

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