plural papillae
pə-ˈpi-(ˌ)lē 
-ˌlī
: a small projecting body part similar to a nipple in form:
a
: a vascular process of connective tissue extending into and nourishing the root of a hair, feather, or developing tooth see hair illustration
b
: any of the vascular protuberances of the dermal layer of the skin extending into the epidermal layer and often containing tactile corpuscles
c
: any of the small protuberances on the upper surface of the tongue often containing taste buds
Examples of papilla in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The papilla sends signals about growth as well as the color and size of the hair strands.1
When your hair is in the growing phase, a strand emerges from the root and grows through the hole at the top of the follicle.
—
Nancy Lebrun, Verywell Health, 15 Aug. 2024
There are many different types of taste buds, but all have stalks and papilla that round out with undercuts under the stalks, similar to the shape of a mushroom, explains Dr. Fraundorf.
—Daley Quinn, Verywell Health, 1 Apr. 2024
In normal skin, osteopontin comes from dermal papilla, which sit at the base of hair follicles.
—Max G. Levy, WIRED, 12 July 2023
This is what happened on July 3, when the volcano exploded (see above), sending ash, papilla (larger volcanic fragments) and volcanincn bombs across the island, generating a small pyroclastic flow that headed down the side of the volcano into the ocean (see below).
—Erik Klemetti, Discover Magazine, 5 July 2019
The dermal papilla are cells at the base of each hair follicle that regulate growth and development.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 22 Apr. 2022
The dermal papilla need vitamin D to grow properly, which then affects the health of individual strands and the scalp as a whole.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 22 Apr. 2022
Hair dermal papillae cells are specialized mesenchymal cells located in the dermal papilla, where the latter is found at the bottom of hair follicles.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 8 Sep. 2021
Follicle Protection Complex zooms in on hair follicle stem cells and dermal papilla cells to promote hair growth.
—Bianca Salonga, Forbes, 24 Apr. 2022
Nancy Lebrun, Verywell Health, 15 Aug. 2024
There are many different types of taste buds, but all have stalks and papilla that round out with undercuts under the stalks, similar to the shape of a mushroom, explains Dr. Fraundorf.
—Daley Quinn, Verywell Health, 1 Apr. 2024
In normal skin, osteopontin comes from dermal papilla, which sit at the base of hair follicles.
—Max G. Levy, WIRED, 12 July 2023
This is what happened on July 3, when the volcano exploded (see above), sending ash, papilla (larger volcanic fragments) and volcanincn bombs across the island, generating a small pyroclastic flow that headed down the side of the volcano into the ocean (see below).
—Erik Klemetti, Discover Magazine, 5 July 2019
The dermal papilla are cells at the base of each hair follicle that regulate growth and development.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 22 Apr. 2022
The dermal papilla need vitamin D to grow properly, which then affects the health of individual strands and the scalp as a whole.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 22 Apr. 2022
Hair dermal papillae cells are specialized mesenchymal cells located in the dermal papilla, where the latter is found at the bottom of hair follicles.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 8 Sep. 2021
Follicle Protection Complex zooms in on hair follicle stem cells and dermal papilla cells to promote hair growth.
—Bianca Salonga, Forbes, 24 Apr. 2022
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'papilla.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Papilla.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/papilla. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Medical Definition
papilla
noun
pa·pil·la
pə-ˈpil-ə
plural papillae
-ˈpil-(ˌ)ē
-ˌī
-ˌī
: a small projecting body part similar to a nipple in form: as
a
: a vascular process of connective tissue extending into and nourishing the root of a hair, feather, or developing tooth
b
: any of the vascular protuberances of the dermal layer of the skin extending into the epidermal layer and often containing tactile corpuscles
c
d
: any of the small protuberances on the upper surface of the tongue see circumvallate papilla, filiform papilla, fungiform papilla, interdental papilla, optic papilla
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