A 30-year-old woman comes to your office for a dental examination. She has not been to the dentist in 2 years. The patient has type I diabetes, which requires her to take insulin. She is otherwise in good health. On intraoral examination, you notice that the dorsum of her tongue has a thick, matted appearance and diagnose her with hairy tongue. Which type of papillae is affected that causes the hairlike appearance of her tongue?: (A) Foliate, (B) Circumvallate, (C) Fungiform, (D) Filiform
Answer is D. Filiform papillae
Thin, pointy projections that comprise the most numerous papillae and give the tongue's dorsal surface its characteristic rough texture. Arrangement: in rows parallel with the sulcus terminalis. Histologically show more keratinization than the other papillae.
Do not contain taste buds.
Note: an overgrowth of these papillae results in hairy tongue. A loss of filiform papillae results in glossitis