Blood flow, shape of capillary plexus and area of fungiform papilla as functions of tongue color
Zhou, S.; Li, Y.Y.; Wang, Y.J.; Yin, G.D.; Guo, S.S.; Zhu, C.Y.
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 3(1): 45-48
1983
ISSN/ISBN: 0255-2922 PMID: 6553131 Document Number: 220746
Observation of tongue color and its relaxation to blood flow of the tongue, capillary plexus in the fungiformes papillae and cross-section areas of the papillae, are presented. The tongues of young healthy students may appear pink or dark pink. The capillary plexus in pink tongue is either branched or petal-shaped and has a higher blood flow rate and greater cross-section areas than that in dark pink tongues. These findings suggest better circulation than in the latter. Dark pink tongues of healthy students in turn have greater blood flow than dark red tongues of diabetics. When compared with pink tongues, the capillary plexus in dark pink tongues of healthy students showed increased stagnation and decreased cross-section areas. Dark red tongues showed fewer visible capillary plexus and less cross-section areas. These findings suggest increased stagnation.