Gustation: Sense of Taste

Three cranial nervesare involved the sense of taste.

Facial (VII) Glossopharyngeal(IX)nerve Vagus(X)

A fourth type of papillae

Filiform papillae

3 types of papillae that contain taste buds

Foliate papillae Fungiformpapillae (circum)vallatepapillae

(circum)vallatepapillae

about 12 that contain 100-300 taste buds)

Glossopharyngeal

carries taste information from the posterior 1/3 of the tongue

Flavors other than umamiare

combinations of the other four primary tastes.

Taste buds

contain receptors for the sensation of taste. Approximately 10,000 taste buds are found on the tongue of a young adult and on the soft palate, pharynx, and epiglottis.

All taste modalities can be

elicited from all areas containing taste buds

Taste buds are located

in elevations on the tongue called papillae.

Vagus(X)

information from taste buds on the epiglottis and in the throat

Foliate papillae

located in lateral trenches of the tongue—most of their taste buds degenerate in early childhood).

facial

nervecarries taste information from the anterior 2/3 of the tongue.

Filiform papillae

papillaecover the entire surface of the tongue. Contain tactile receptorsbut no taste buds. Increase friction to make it easier for the tongue to move food within the mouth

Fungiformpapillae

scattered over the tongue with about 5 taste buds each)

There are only 5 primary tastes:

sour, sweet, bitter, salt and umami

Taste buds contain 3 kinds of epithelial cells

supporting cells, gustatory hair receptor cellsand basal stem cells.