Stereo-structural study of the lingual papillae and their connective tissue cores in relation to ageing changes in the human tongue.
This study describes the stereo structure of human lingual papillae along lifespan with particular emphasis to ageing. The following results were obtained. Numerous slender protrusions extend from the basal column of each filiform papilla of young human tongues and decrease in number with age. Many cases having an entirely flat area on the surface of the tongue without papillae were found in old age (Loss of protrusions and flattened epithelium). The number, thickness and length of each secondary protrusion of connective tissue core (CTC) of the filiform papilla decreases roughly proportionally with age (Ramification at the end of protrusions, and fused patterns of CTC of the filiform papilla). The CTC of fungiform papillae which have a corolliform structure, become thin with age. Numerous small rod-shaped secondary CTC are distributed under the epithelium of the vallate papillae in the young subjects and decrease in number and become irregularly distributed in older age. The fact that there is a great deal of individual variation of human lingual papillae regardless of age must be emphasized.
Kobayashi
K
K
Department of Anatomy, School of Dentistry at Niigata, The Nippon Dental University, Japan. kobayashi@ngt.ndu.ac.jp
Kumakura
M
M
Yoshimura
K
K
Shindo
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008875:Middle Aged; D013649:Taste / Q000502:physiology*; D013650:Taste Buds / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*