How Do You Spell PAPILLA VALLATA?

1. Papilla vallata, also known as circumvallate papillae, is a large and prominent type of taste bud located towards the back of the tongue. It is one of the three main types of taste buds found in humans, along with fungiform and foliate papillae.

   Papilla vallata are characterized by their circular or oval shape and are typically arranged in a V-shaped row at the back of the tongue, forming a boundary between the posterior and middle regions of the tongue's surface. These taste buds are larger in size compared to other papillae. They are surrounded by a circular groove, hence the name "circumvallate," which means surrounding wall.

   The primary function of papilla vallata is to detect and transmit taste sensations to the brain. They contain taste receptor cells that are responsible for the perception of different tastes, such as sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and umami. These receptor cells are activated when specific taste molecules interact with proteins on their surfaces, triggering signals that are then transmitted to the brain via the nervous system.

   In addition to their taste-related function, papilla vallata also have minor roles in lubricating the tongue and aiding in swallowing. They have taste pores on their surfaces, through which taste molecules in food and beverages enter and stimulate the taste receptor cells. The arrangement of papilla vallata towards the back of the tongue helps protect them from being easily washed away by saliva during the oral movements involved in eating and drinking.

2. Vallate p., circumvallate p., one of eight or ten projections from the dorsum of the tongue forming a row anterior to and parallel with the sulcus terminalis; each papilla is surrounded by a circular trench (fossa) having a slightly raised outer wall (vallum); on the sides of the vallate papilla and the opposed margin of the vallum are numerous taste-buds.

   A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.

Common Misspellings for PAPILLA VALLATA

The word "papilla vallata" is derived from Latin.

- "Papilla" comes from the Latin word "papilla", which means "nipple" or "small swelling". In anatomy, papilla refers to small, nipple-like structures found on various parts of the body.

- "Vallata" comes from the Latin word "vallatus", which means "walled" or "enclosed". It is the feminine form of the past participle of "vallare", which means "to surround with a wall or fence".

So, "papilla vallata" literally means "walled or surrounded papilla". In anatomy, the term refers to a specific type of taste bud located near the back of the tongue, which is surrounded by a circular wall of epithelial tissue.