Papilla

Papilla (plural: papillae), generally meaning a nipple-like structure, may refer to:

In animals

• Papilla (fish anatomy), small lumps of dermal tissue found in the mouth which hold taste buds
• Amphibian papilla and basal papilla, parts of the inner ear of frogs
• Dental papilla, cells involved in a developing tooth
• Dermal papillae, at the base of every hair follicle
• Major duodenal papilla, the opening of the pancreatic duct and common bile duct into the duodenum
• Minor duodenal papilla, the opening of the accessory pancreatic duct into the duodenum
• Genital papilla, a small tube in some animals through which eggs or sperm are released
• Interdental papilla, part of the gingiva between teeth
• Lacrimal papilla, on the eyelid
• Lingual papillae, of which there are four types:
  • Circumvallate papillae
  • Fungiform papilla
  • Filiform papilla
  • Foliate papillae
• Mammary papilla, or nipple
• Renal papilla, in the kidney
• Papillae of the taste buds
• Papillary muscle, a muscle in the heart
• Sensory papillae of the Amblyopsidae (cavefishes)
• Conical fleshy protuberances on a sea cucumber

Conditions

• Papillary thyroid cancer, a type of disease
• Papilloma, a benign epithelial tumor

In plants and fungi

• Papilla (mycology), an acutely nipple-shaped protrusion in the center of the cap
• Cuticular papilla, a raised thickening in plant cuticle, not large enough to be considered a trichome or hair
• Stigmatic papilla on the receptive tip of a carpel (female part of a flower)

See also

• Blister
• Papule