The blood circulation of the tongue.

This article describes the gross anatomy of the vessels which supply the mammalian tongue. It shows that there is a rich vascular supply. Available data indicate that the lingual papillae are supplied with a true capillary circulation, which is more abundant in the papillae containing taste buds. The vessels of the tongue are innervated by adrenergic sympathetic vasconstrictor fibers and it is also very likely that a cholinergic parasympathetic vasodilator influence exists.