In vivo Observation of Papillae of the Human Tongue Using Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy

The aim of this investigation was to visualize the epithelial structures of the tongue using confocal laser scanning microscopy (LSM). The human tongue epithelium of 28 healthy subjects, aged 21–67 years, mean age 38 years, 14 women and 14 men, was examined in vivo by LSM. Using LSM, a combination o...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inO.R.L. Journal for oto-rhino-laryngology and its related specialties Vol. 67; no. 4; pp. 207 - 212
Main Authors Just, Tino, Stave, Joachim, Pau, Hans Wilhelm, Guthoff, Rudolf
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Basel, Switzerland Karger 01.01.2005
S. Karger AG
Subjects
Adult
Aged
Biological and medical sciences
Capillaries - ultrastructure
Cell Nucleus - ultrastructure
Epithelium - ultrastructure
Extracellular Matrix - ultrastructure
Extracellular Space
Female
Humans
Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
Intracellular Membranes - ultrastructure
Male
Medical sciences
Microscopy, Confocal
Middle Aged
Mouth Mucosa - ultrastructure
Organelles - ultrastructure
Original Paper
Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology
Regional Blood Flow - physiology
Taste Buds - ultrastructure
Tongue - ultrastructure
Videotape Recording
Confocal microscopy
Human tongue
Noninvasive imaging
Human
In vivo
Tongue
Scanning microscope
Gustatory papilla
ENT
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Summary:The aim of this investigation was to visualize the epithelial structures of the tongue using confocal laser scanning microscopy (LSM). The human tongue epithelium of 28 healthy subjects, aged 21–67 years, mean age 38 years, 14 women and 14 men, was examined in vivo by LSM. Using LSM, a combination of the Heidelberg Retina Tomograph HRT II and the Rostock Cornea Module, up to 800-fold magnifications were obtained. On the tongue surface both filiform and fungiform papillae and their taste pores were easily identified. The epithelium of the tongue with its subcellular structures could be observed up to a depth of 50 µm, cellular structures up to 150 µm and subepithelial vessels up to 300 µm. Additionally the papillary crests and blood flow were visible. Confocal LSM seems suitable for noninvasive in vivo examination of the tongue. The hydraulic z scan, the manual start setting and the measurement of the depth allow a clear classification of the observed structures.
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ISSN:0301-1569
1423-0275
DOI:10.1159/000087320