Papilla facts for kids

Papilla (say "pah-PIL-uh") or papillae (say "pah-PIL-ee") are small, nipple-shaped bumps or structures found in living things. They are usually tiny and have important jobs, like helping us taste, feel, or grow.

What is a Papilla?

A papilla is a small, raised part of an organ or tissue. Think of it like a tiny hill or a little nipple-shaped bump. These small structures are found all over the bodies of animals and plants. They help with many different functions. For example, some papillae help us sense things, while others help parts of our body grow.

Papillae in Animals

Animals have many different types of papillae. Each type has a special job. These tiny bumps are important for how animals live and interact with their world.

Tongue Papillae: Taste Buds' Homes

The most famous papillae are probably the ones on your tongue! These are called Lingual papillae. They make your tongue feel rough. There are different kinds of lingual papillae:

• Fungiform papillae are mushroom-shaped and found mostly at the tip and sides of your tongue. They contain taste buds.
• Filiform papillae are the most common. They are cone-shaped and cover most of your tongue. They help you feel food but do not have taste buds.
• Circumvallate papillae are large and found at the back of your tongue, forming a "V" shape. They also contain many taste buds.
• Foliate papillae are folds on the sides of your tongue, near the back. They have taste buds too.

These papillae help you taste sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami flavors.

Skin Papillae: Helping Hair Grow

Your skin also has papillae! These are called Dermal papillae. They are small, cone-shaped bumps at the bottom of your hair follicles. Hair follicles are like tiny pockets in your skin where hair grows. Dermal papillae bring blood and nutrients to the hair follicle. This helps your hair grow strong and healthy. They are also found in the skin of your fingers and toes, helping to form your unique fingerprints.

Dental Papilla: Building Teeth

When you were very young, before your teeth even appeared, a special structure called the Dental papilla was working inside your gums. This papilla is a part of a developing tooth. It helps form the soft inner part of the tooth, called the pulp. The pulp contains nerves and blood vessels. It also helps create the dentin, which is the hard material under the enamel of your tooth.

Mammary Papilla: A Raised Area

The Mammary papilla is a raised area of tissue on the surface of the breast. In humans, this is commonly known as the nipple. It plays a role in feeding babies.

Kidney Papilla: Filtering Blood

Inside your kidneys, there's a part called the Renal papilla. The kidneys are organs that filter waste from your blood. The renal papilla is the tip of a pyramid-shaped structure in the kidney. It helps collect the urine that the kidney has made. This urine then travels to the bladder to be stored.

Papillae in Plants and Fungi

Papillae are not just found in animals. Plants and fungi also have these small, raised structures.

Fungal Papilla: A Cap Feature

In the world of fungi, especially mushrooms, a papilla can be a small, nipple-shaped bump in the center of the mushroom's cap. It's a noticeable feature that helps identify different types of mushrooms.

Stigmatic Papilla: Pollen's Landing Pad

In plants, the stigma is the part of the flower that receives pollen. Many stigmas have tiny bumps called stigmatic papillae. These papillae are often sticky or feathery. They help catch and hold pollen grains. This is a very important step for a plant to make seeds and reproduce.