Advanced Dental Admission Test (ADAT)

Which type of taste bud is most numerous on the anterior tip of the tongue?

1. Fungiform

2. Foliate

3. Filiform

4. Circumvallate

The correct answer is: Fungiform

The most numerous type of taste bud located on the anterior tip of the tongue is indeed the fungiform taste bud. These taste buds are mushroom-shaped and are scattered among the filiform papillae, which primarily provide the tongue with a rough texture but do not contain taste buds. Fungiform papillae are specifically responsible for detecting sweet, salty, and umami flavors, making them crucial for tasting. In contrast, foliate taste buds are typically found on the lateral aspects of the tongue and are more numerous in young individuals, while circumvallate taste buds are located at the back of the tongue in a V-shaped arrangement. Filiform papillae do not have taste buds and serve a different purpose, mainly providing tactile sensations rather than taste perception. Thus, the presence and function of fungiform taste buds are essential for the gustatory experience in the anterior region of the tongue.