Alternative Content 6.2: Taste Buds and Taste Receptor Cells

The tongue shows taste buds and taste receptor cells. (A). Papilla and taste bud. (B) Nerve fiber, taste pore, and microvilli. Lining the sides of each papilla are taste buds which are made up of taste receptor cells that contact tastants in saliva via fine projections called microvilli. The three different types of papillae are circumvallate, foliate papillae, and fungiform papillae.

Fungiform papillae

Fungiform papillae are one of three types of small structures on the tongue that contain taste receptors. The fungiform papillae are located in the front of the tongue.

Papilla

A papilla is a small bump that projects from the surface of the tongue. Papillae contain most of the taste receptor cells.

Taste bud

Each papilla holds one or more taste buds, and each taste bud consists of a cluster of 50–150 taste receptor cells.

Circumvallate papillae

Circumvallate papillae are one of three types of small structures on the tongue that contain taste receptors. The circumvallate papillae are located at the back of the tongue.

Foliate papillae

Foliate papillae are one of three types of small structures on the tongue that contain taste receptors. The foliate papillae are located along the sides of the tongue.

Taste pore

The taste pore is a small aperture through which tastant molecules are able to access the sensory receptors of the taste bud.