Oral Cavity 06

Here, at higher magnification is the region at G in Oral Cavity 05. The space labeled "O" is the trench between the circumvallate papilla (below) and the bulk of the tongue (above), whose dorsal surface is to the right. In life, the space at "O" would contain salivary gland secretions, including those from von Ebner's glands (out of view to the left). Note that both surfaces facing this fluid-filled space are covered by the same non-keratinized stratified squamous epithelium (E). Above each "T" is a an oval, multi-cellular, structure - a taste bud: the presence of these neural structures within the surface layer make it a neuroepithelium. Each taste bud is in contact with the fluid in the trench via a narrow taste pore, two of which are indicated by the letters "I". Note the lymphocytic infiltration at "L" and elsewhere in this field.

Slide N-3, field Q40 of finder slide B, 16X objective