Examine the tissue and have a close look at the small salivary glands located in the connective tissue of the tongue. Draw a part of the section in which papillae on the surface of the tongue, muscular tissue and possible some of the glands embedded between the muscular tissue of the tongue are visible. Taste Buds Taste buds are most numerous in the fungiform, circumvallate and foliate papillae. In addition, taste buds are found in the palate, palatoglossal and palatopharyngeal arches and in the pharynx and larynx. In histological sections they appear as ovoid lightly stained bodies, which extend perpendicular from the basement membrane to a little opening formed in the epithelium, the taste pore .
Sensory cells extend microvilli into the taste pore.
Basal cells regenerate the two other cell types. Now look at the bottom of the trench surrounding the circumvallate papillae. Sometimes it is possible to find a duct opening into the trench. If the actual opening is outside the plane of section it is usually possible to find a section of the duct in the underlying connective tissue. Slightly deeper in the connective tissue you may be able to identify the serous glands, which rinse the trenches surrounding the circumvallate papillae.