The three nerve associated with taste are:

The tongue
TASTE
Facial nerve( cranial nerve VII)-provides
fibers to the anterior two third of the The Tongue:
Is a muscular organ in the mouth covered with a moist, pink tissue called mucosa.

tongue. Occupies floor of the mouth

Glossopharyngeal nerve( cranial nerve
IX)-provides fibers to the posterior third of
the tongue.
Vagus nerve ( cranial nerve X)-provides
fibers to the epiglottis region.
Taste sense is served by cranial nerves VII, IX,
and X, that send impulses to the solitary
It is 3 inches long
Superior surface consists of
stratified squamous epithelium
Has numerous papillae containing
sensory receptors for the sense of
taste in taste bud.

nucleus of the medulla. From there, impulses

are sent to the thalamus and the gustatory
cortex.

Two major types of Epithelial cells in the

taste bud: .
Gustatory Epithelial cells: Parts of the Tongue:
Gustatory hair projects from the tip of the Root: Taste refers to the
gustatory epithelial cells located between the hyoid bone and throughout of flavour
Sensory dendrites, surround the gustatory the mandible felt in the mouth and
epithelial cells, this represents the initial Attaches the tongue to the roof of the
gustatory pathway to the brain
the throat in touch
mouth
with any substance.
Body:
Makes up the anterior ⅔ of the tongue

Basal Epithelial cells: Rough surface due to the lingual Is a muscular organ in
Taste buds are frequently exposed to friction papillae the mouth covered
and burns, by hot food thus, the buds are Apex(tip): with a moist,pink
replaced every 7-10 days Rest against the incisor teeth
The basal epithelial cells divide and tissue called mucosa.
Is highly mobile
differentiate into new gustatory cells

 Fibers carrying taster from the
tongue are found in two cranial
nerves pairs.
fibers synapse in the solidarity
nucleus the medulla,and from
there impulse stream to the
thalamus and to the gustatory
cortex in the insula.
fibers also project to the
hypothalamus and limbic system
structure region determine the
appreciation of what we are
tasting.
The three types of papillae
are:
fungiform (mushroom like)
filiform (filum - thread like)
circumvallate.
Gustatory Pathway
Three nerves that carries taste signals to
the brain stem:
1. The chorda tympani nerve-provides fiber
to anterior two-thirds of the tongue
2. The glossopharyngeal nerve- provides
fiber to posterior third of the tongue
3. The vagus nerve (from the throat area
and palate)
Taste Receptors
The seven most common flavors in
food that are directly detected by the
tongue are: sweet, bitter, sour, salty,
meaty (umami), cool, and hot.
Each taste bud has between 50 to
150 taste receptor cells. These cells
contain receptors that extend
upward inside the taste pore. These
extensions are taste hairs called
microvilli. The microvilli come into
contact with the chemicals in the
food and drink you consume.
Each type of receptor has a different
manner of sensory transduction: that
is, of detecting the presence of a
certain compound and starting an
action potential which alerts the
brain.