taste bud; caliculus gustatorius; Schwalbe corpuscle; gustatory bud

Introduction

One of many flask-shaped nests of cells in the oropharyngeal epithelium.

Function

• most taste cells may be activated by a limited number of bitter compounds, individual taste cells can discriminate among bitter stimuli

Structure

• taste buds consist of sustentacular, gustatory & basal cells between which intragemmal sensory fibers terminate

Afferents

• taste buds have both gustatory & somatosensory afferent innervation

Distribution

Taste buds may be found in the:

• papillae of the tongue
  • vallate
  • fungiform
  • foliate
• soft palate
• epiglottis
• posterior wall of the pharynx

More general terms

• organ

Additional terms

• dysgeusia (taste disorder)
• gustatory
• taste
• taste receptor

Component of

• tongue
• epiglottis
• soft palate
• pharynx