Understanding the structure and function of the tongue is essential for B.Pharm students studying oral physiology, pharmacology, and drug delivery. This concise review covers tongue anatomy—papillae types (filiform, fungiform, circumvallate, foliate), taste buds and sensory cell types, intrinsic and extrinsic muscles, neurovascular supply (cranial nerves VII, IX, XII; lingual artery), lymphatic drainage, and epithelial histology. Functional topics include taste transduction (sweet, bitter, umami GPCRs; salty and sour ion channels), salivary interactions, taste disorders, and pharmacological impacts such as drug-induced dysgeusia and topical absorption. Focused knowledge here supports clinical reasoning, medication counseling, and formulation design. Now let’s test your knowledge with 30 MCQs on this topic.
Q1. Which papilla type lacks taste buds and primarily provides mechanical friction for food manipulation?
- Filiform papillae
- Fungiform papillae
- Circumvallate papillae
- Foliate papillae
Correct Answer: Filiform papillae
Q2. Taste buds are mainly located in which layer of the tongue epithelium?
- Basal layer of stratified squamous epithelium
- Stratum corneum
- Superficial lamina propria
- Within connective tissue papillae
Correct Answer: Basal layer of stratified squamous epithelium
Q3. Which cranial nerve carries taste from the anterior two-thirds of the tongue?
- Mandibular branch of V (V3)
- Facial nerve via chorda tympani (VII)
- Glossopharyngeal nerve (IX)
- Vagus nerve (X)
Correct Answer: Facial nerve via chorda tympani (VII)
Q4. Which muscle is not an intrinsic muscle of the tongue?
- Superior longitudinal
- Vertical muscle
- Genioglossus
- Inferior longitudinal
Correct Answer: Genioglossus
Q5. The main arterial supply to the tongue is provided by which vessel?
- Facial artery
- Lingual artery
- Maxillary artery
- Ascending pharyngeal artery
Correct Answer: Lingual artery
Q6. Which cell type in taste buds is primarily responsible for neurotransmitter release to gustatory afferents?
- Type I supporting cells
- Type II receptor cells
- Type IV basal cells
- Keratinocytes
Correct Answer: Type II receptor cells
Q7. Which taste modality is mainly detected by GPCRs rather than ion channels?
- Salty
- Sour
- Sweet
- Thermal sensation
Correct Answer: Sweet
Q8. Taste receptor signaling for bitter and sweet commonly uses which G-protein?
- Transducin
- Gustducin
- Gs alpha
- Gi alpha
Correct Answer: Gustducin
Q9. Which structure houses multiple circumvallate papillae and large numbers of taste buds?
- Anterior median sulcus
- Foramen cecum region
- V-shaped sulcus terminalis near the posterior tongue
- Lateral border of the tongue only
Correct Answer: V-shaped sulcus terminalis near the posterior tongue
Q10. Damage to the hypoglossal nerve (XII) results mainly in:
- Loss of taste in anterior two-thirds
- Paralysis of tongue muscles and deviation toward the lesion
- Loss of minor salivary secretion only
- Loss of pain sensation from the tongue
Correct Answer: Paralysis of tongue muscles and deviation toward the lesion
Q11. Which epithelial characteristic is typical for the dorsal surface of the anterior two-thirds of the tongue?
- Keratinized stratified squamous epithelium
- Simple columnar epithelium
- Respiratory pseudostratified epithelium
- Non-keratinized transitional epithelium
Correct Answer: Keratinized stratified squamous epithelium
Q12. The turnover time for human taste bud cells is approximately:
- 1–2 days
- 7–14 days
- 1–2 months
- 6 months
Correct Answer: 7–14 days
Q13. Which lymph nodes primarily drain the anterior two-thirds of the tongue?
- Supraclavicular nodes
- Submandibular and deep cervical nodes
- Parotid nodes only
- Axillary nodes
Correct Answer: Submandibular and deep cervical nodes
Q14. Which of the following drugs is commonly associated with causing dysgeusia (taste disturbance)?
- Amoxicillin (short course)
- Metronidazole
- Acetaminophen at analgesic dose
- Topical emollients
Correct Answer: Metronidazole
Q15. Saliva influences taste by:
- Removing only mechanical debris without affecting taste molecules
- Diluting and dissolving tastants and providing enzymes that modulate taste perception
- Blocking taste receptor access completely
- Changing the pH irreversibly to abolish taste
Correct Answer: Diluting and dissolving tastants and providing enzymes that modulate taste perception
Q16. The circumvallate papillae are innervated for taste primarily by which nerve?
- Lingual nerve (branch of V3)
- Glossopharyngeal nerve (IX)
- Chorda tympani (VII)
- Hypoglossal nerve (XII)
Correct Answer: Glossopharyngeal nerve (IX)
Q17. Which molecular mechanism primarily mediates sour taste transduction?
- GPCR activation by sweet receptors
- Proton (H+) entry through ion channels affecting transduction
- Cyclic nucleotide gated channels for bitter taste
- Direct activation of sodium channels used by sweet taste
Correct Answer: Proton (H+) entry through ion channels affecting transduction
Q18. Which papillae are most numerous on the dorsal tongue and heavily keratinized for mechanical function?
- Fungiform papillae
- Filiform papillae
- Circumvallate papillae
- Foliate papillae
Correct Answer: Filiform papillae
Q19. In topical lingual drug delivery, the thin, highly vascular ventral mucosa primarily affects drug absorption by:
- Decreasing systemic absorption due to keratin barrier
- Facilitating rapid systemic absorption and onset
- Preventing any absorption because of saliva flow
- Only allowing lymphatic uptake
Correct Answer: Facilitating rapid systemic absorption and onset
Q20. Which taste modality uses epithelial sodium channels (ENaC) as a primary transduction mechanism in many species?
- Sweet taste
- Umami taste
- Salty taste
- Bitter taste
Correct Answer: Salty taste
Q21. Which statement about taste bud cell types is correct?
- Type I cells are primary taste receptor cells for sweet taste
- Type II cells respond to sweet, bitter, and umami via GPCRs
- Type III cells are supportive fibroblasts without sensory function
- Basal cells have no role in taste bud regeneration
Correct Answer: Type II cells respond to sweet, bitter, and umami via GPCRs
Q22. Ageusia refers to which clinical condition?
- Enhanced taste sensitivity
- Complete loss of taste
- Only loss of sweet perception
- Painful tongue ulcers
Correct Answer: Complete loss of taste
Q23. Which of the following is a pharmacological implication of tongue innervation knowledge?
- Predicting systemic clearance rates of oral drugs
- Selecting anesthetic technique for lingual procedures to preserve taste and motor function
- Determining renal dosing adjustments
- Assessing hepatic metabolism sites
Correct Answer: Selecting anesthetic technique for lingual procedures to preserve taste and motor function
Q24. The taste pore is best described as:
- A neuronal ganglion beneath the tongue
- An opening in the taste bud epithelium exposing receptor cells to the oral cavity
- A vascular channel supplying taste buds
- A lymphatic channel draining circumvallate papillae
Correct Answer: An opening in the taste bud epithelium exposing receptor cells to the oral cavity
Q25. Which cranial nerve provides general sensory (touch, pain) innervation to the anterior two-thirds of the tongue?
- Chorda tympani (VII)
- Glossopharyngeal (IX)
- Lingual nerve (branch of V3)
- Hypoglossal (XII)
Correct Answer: Lingual nerve (branch of V3)
Q26. Foliate papillae are most prominent in which region of the tongue?
- Anterior midline
- Posterolateral borders
- Ventral surface
- Tip of the tongue
Correct Answer: Posterolateral borders
Q27. Which neurotransmitter has been implicated in taste cell signaling to sensory afferents?
- Acetylcholine exclusively
- ATP released from taste cells
- Only nitric oxide
- Insulin from basal cells
Correct Answer: ATP released from taste cells
Q28. A B.Pharm student evaluating chemotherapy-induced taste loss should consider which mechanism?
- Chemotherapy increases expression of taste GPCRs
- Cytotoxic damage to rapidly renewing taste bud cells reducing function
- Enhanced salivary flow masking tastants
- Strengthening of epithelial keratinization improving taste
Correct Answer: Cytotoxic damage to rapidly renewing taste bud cells reducing function
Q29. Which histological feature distinguishes circumvallate papillae from fungiform papillae?
- Circumvallate papillae are non-keratinized while fungiform are keratinized
- Circumvallate papillae sit in trenches and have numerous taste buds on their lateral walls
- Fungiform papillae contain von Ebner glands but circumvallate do not
- Fungiform papillae are the largest and form a V-shape at the posterior tongue
Correct Answer: Circumvallate papillae sit in trenches and have numerous taste buds on their lateral walls
Q30. Which assessment is most appropriate to test glossopharyngeal nerve function related to the tongue?
- Testing tongue protrusion strength
- Gag reflex and taste on the posterior third of the tongue
- Palatal elevation with vocalization only
- Sensation of the anterior tongue with cotton wisp
Correct Answer: Gag reflex and taste on the posterior third of the tongue
I am a Registered Pharmacist under the Pharmacy Act, 1948, and the founder of PharmacyFreak.com. I hold a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from Rungta College of Pharmaceutical Science and Research. With a strong academic foundation and practical knowledge, I am committed to providing accurate, easy-to-understand content to support pharmacy students and professionals. My aim is to make complex pharmaceutical concepts accessible and useful for real-world application.
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