National Dental Assisting Examining Board (NDAEB) Practice Exam

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Prepare for the National Dental Assisting Exam with comprehensive quiz questions, including multiple choice and detailed explanations. Equip yourself for success!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

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What type of sensation do filiform papillae on the tongue primarily respond to?

Taste
Touch
Temperature
Pressure

The correct answer is: Touch

Filiform papillae are specialized structures located on the surface of the tongue and they primarily serve to provide a sense of touch. Unlike other types of papillae, such as fungiform and circumvallate papillae, which are involved in the taste sensation due to the presence of taste buds, filiform papillae do not contain taste buds. They are equipped with sensory nerve endings that respond to mechanical stimuli, allowing them to detect texture, shape, and movement of food in the mouth. This sensory function contributes significantly to the overall experience of eating, assisting in the perception of texture and the manipulation of food during chewing. Filiform papillae help the brain process information about the food being consumed, influencing taste and swallowing.