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Sexual dimorphism of human vallate papillae: an in vivo study of normative morphology
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Abstract
The perimeters of vallate papillae (VP) house approximately half of the taste buds on the human tongue. However, little information exists regarding perimeter measurements of VP. Likewise, great diversity exists among reports of the number of VP and diameter of VP, in general. The research presents an analysis of the perimeters, counts, and diameters of VP in vivo. Endoscopic examination was performed on 79 individuals (40 females, 39 males) between 18 and 26 years of age. A total of 583 VP were counted, 565 of which were able to be measured. Data revealed a statistically significant difference between male and female VP count (t(75.6) = 4.5; p = 0.00003). Females had, on average, 2.22 more VP than males. Males were found to have larger mean VP diameter per person and mean VP perimeter per person than females (t(58.9) = –2.4; p = 0.021 and t(59.3) = –2.4; p = 0.019, respectively). The report demonstrates that VP are sexually dimorphic at the gross anatomical level.
Abstract
The perimeters of vallate papillae (VP) house approximately half of the taste buds on the human tongue. However, little information exists regarding perimeter measurements of VP. Likewise, great diversity exists among reports of the number of VP and diameter of VP, in general. The research presents an analysis of the perimeters, counts, and diameters of VP in vivo. Endoscopic examination was performed on 79 individuals (40 females, 39 males) between 18 and 26 years of age. A total of 583 VP were counted, 565 of which were able to be measured. Data revealed a statistically significant difference between male and female VP count (t(75.6) = 4.5; p = 0.00003). Females had, on average, 2.22 more VP than males. Males were found to have larger mean VP diameter per person and mean VP perimeter per person than females (t(58.9) = –2.4; p = 0.021 and t(59.3) = –2.4; p = 0.019, respectively). The report demonstrates that VP are sexually dimorphic at the gross anatomical level.
Keywords
circumvallate papillae, gustation, gustatory papillae, lingual papillae, taste, taste buds, tongue
About this articleTitle
Sexual dimorphism of human vallate papillae: an in vivo study of normative morphology
Journal
Issue
Article type
Original article
Pages
245-251
Published online
2015-05-28
Page views
1110
Article views/downloads
5923
DOI
10.5603/FM.2015.0038
Pubmed
Bibliographic record
Folia Morphol 2015;74(2):245-251.
Keywords
circumvallate papillae
gustation
gustatory papillae
lingual papillae
taste
taste buds
tongue
Authors
M. J Zdilla
L. N. Gibson
A. J. Hunt
