Tongue. False-colour scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of the dorsal surface of the tongue, covered predominantly with fungiform papillae (red), interspersed with a few filiform (conical) papillae (thorn-like, gold coloured). The spiky filiform papillae are mechanically adapted for processing food. Taste buds are located on many of the larger fungiform papillae, consisting of a neuroepithelial cell in the centre of the structure. The untidy appearance of this surface is due to desquamation, in which dead cells are constantly being shed from the top layer. Magnification: x63 at 6x7cm size.