GUSTATION (Taste)
_The structure of the taste organ involves specialized structures on the tongue and other areas of the oral cavity that are responsible for detecting taste.
Componants of the taste organ :
- 1. Taste buds: _the primary structures for detecting taste.
- They are small clusters of cells located on papillae.
- Each taste bud contains taste receptor cells.
- 2. Taste Receptor Cells: ← pseudounipolar cells
- Sensitive cells that detect specific taste qualities
- ↳ 5 (Sweet, salty, Sour, bitter & umami)
- 3. Papillae: _Structures on the tongue's surface that house taste buds.
- ↳ Types:
- 1.3 Fungiform (across the tongue's surface).
- 2.3 foliate (on the side of the tongue).
- 3.3 Circumvallate (at the back of " " )
- 4.3 filiform (the entire tongue surface).
- ↳ without taste buds !!
- 4. Taste pores: _small openings on the surface of the tongu
- allow substances to enter the taste buds
- 5. Supporting Cells: support taste receptor cells.
- 6. Salivary Glands: producing saliva, wich contain enzymes that break down food particals.