Ace Your Smile Game: 2026 Dental Assistant Practice Exam – Drill Into Success!

Papillae on the dorsum of the tongue are primarily known for serving as taste buds, which play a crucial role in the process of gustation or taste perception. There are different types of papillae, such as fungiform, circumvallate, and foliate, each containing taste buds that are sensitive to different taste modalities—sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and umami. This specialized function is essential for detecting flavors, which contributes to the overall sensory experience of eating and drinking.

While the other options may suggest aspects related to the functions of the tongue, they do not accurately represent the primary role of papillae. Texture, mastication, and saliva production are functions related to other anatomical features and processes. For instance, the tongue does help in food texture by moving food around, but that does not define papillae. Similarly, mastication is mostly a function of the teeth and jaw. Saliva production occurs in glands, not in papillae themselves. Thus, the correct answer highlights the primary specialized sensory function of papillae in taste perception.