Which type of papillae is primarily responsible for the friction during eating but does not have taste buds?

The type of papillae primarily responsible for providing friction during eating, while lacking taste buds, is the filiform papillae. These structures are the most numerous of the papillae found on the surface of the tongue and are cone-shaped. Their main function is to facilitate the mechanical processing of food by gripping and moving it around the mouth, which aids in the process of chewing and swallowing.

Unlike other types of papillae, such as fungiform and circumvallate, which contain taste buds embedded in their structure and are involved in the sense of taste, filiform papillae do not have taste sensation. Instead, they are covered with keratin, giving them a rough texture that enhances their ability to grip food.

The foliate papillae, found on the sides of the tongue, do contain taste buds but are not primarily focused on the frictional aspect during eating. Thus, filiform papillae are uniquely suited for their mechanical role without contributing to taste perception, which aligns with the characteristics described in the question.