Last edited: 8/6/2021

1. GUSTATION PATHWAY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCPzPFLn3so&list=PLTF9h- Medical Editor: Donna Stewart
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o Activates transducin
OUTLINE o Phospholipase C (PLC) is activated
o PIP2 is broken into two components
I) MAIN HEADING IN o Diacylglycerol which activates Protein Kinase C
II) CONTENT FORMATTING and phosphorylates certain protein channels.
III) APPENDIX
It has less effect, such as inhibiting or allowing
IV) REVIEW QUESTIONS
V) REFRENCES chemicals from exiting or entering the cell.
o Inositol triphosphate (IP3), this binds to IP3
receptors on smooth endoplasmic reticulum
channels. Ca++ move into the cell. Synaptic
proteins on vesicles containing ATP or
serotonin will be activated. The vesicle will fuse,
I) GUSTATION and the neurotransmitters will be released to
the nerve terminal at the synaptic cleft.
The sense of taste or the act of tasting. o The nerve terminals will then be stimulated, and
action potentials will be transmitted thorough
II) ANATOMY OF THE TONGUE the cranial nerve.
• Surface anatomy
● Superior to the mandible, trachea, larynx, and • Salty
epiglottis o Has open channels.
● Inferior to the nose and upper part of maxilla o Na++ ions move into the cell due to the high levels
● The sulcus terminalis separates the anterior 2/3 of outside of the taste cells.
tongue to the posterior 1/3. o The resting membrane potential moves towards the
• Formation of tongue threshold potential.
o Has taste buds, called fungiform papillae, generally o Once at threshold potential reached voltage gated
concentrated in the anterior two thirds of the tongue. Calcium channels open.
o On the sulcus terminalis, are the circumvallate o Ca++ flows into the cell.
papillae. o Synaptic proteins on vesicles containing ATP or
o Foliate papillae are located on the side of the tongue serotonin will be activated.
and are believed to have a function specifically for the o The vesicle will fuse, and the neurotransmitters will be
taste of milk like substances in children. released to the nerve terminal at the synaptic cleft.
o Has other buds, filiform papillae, which are conical o Will transmit action potentials down the cranial nerve.
and aligned in lines throughout the tongue surface Sour
and cause friction for eating. o Rich in Protons (H+).
o The epiglottis, and parts of the pharynx primarily o The protons go through channels at the same time
oropharynx and a small portion of the laryngopharynx that Potassium (K+) would be leaving the cell.
also have taste buds o The protons block the exit of K+ from the cell, and the
K+ stays within the cell.
III) REVIEW OF THE TASTE BUD
o It builds up with K+ ions and becomes positive.
• Has three types of cells o The resting membrane potential moves towards the
● Type I cells threshold potential.
● Type II cells o Once at threshold potential reached voltage gated
● Type III cells Calcium channels open.
o They are epithelial cells which come into o Ca++ flows into the cell.
constant contact with hot and cold substances, o Synaptic proteins on vesicles containing ATP or
and foods that cause friction. serotonin will be activated.
o They regenerate every 7 to 10 days. o The vesicle will fuse, and the neurotransmitters will be
o These all have terminal connections to nerves. released to the nerve terminal at the synaptic cleft.
o The synaptic portions of the terminal o Will transmit action potentials down the cranial nerve.
connections will pick up various tastes and
send the messages through to the cranial V) CRANIAL NERVES AND GUSTATION
nerves, of the type of taste that is being
experienced.
• Can taste types of taste CRANIAL NERVE VII
o Sweet (glucose)
• Facial Nerve.
o Salty (NaCl)
o Specific to anterior 2/3 of the tongue.
o Sour (H+, fats)
o Run through a structure combined with other fibers of
o Bitter (alkaline type)
touch, pain and temperature from the Trigeminal
o Umami (glutamate, L-amino acids)
Nerve, and fibers from the submandibular gland and
the sublingual salivary gland.
IV) HOW TASTE BUDS FUNCTION o Structure named the Chordae Tympani.
o Runs through the Geniculate Ganglion, where the
• Sweet, Bitter and Umami peripheral and central processes meet.
o G-Protein coupled receptors (GPCR)
o Bound to transducin

Gustation pathway NEURO PHYSIOLOGY: Note #1. 1 of 3

 o The central processes of the taste fibers go via the
internal acoustic meatus to the Nucleus of Tractus
Solitarius within the Pons and in the Medulla.
CRANIAL NERVE IX
• Glossopharyngeal Nerve.
o Specific to the posterior 1/3 of the tongue and the
Sulcus Terminalis.
o Carry taste sensations from the circumvallate and
fungiform papillae.
o Runs through two different types of Ganglia, the
Petrosal Ganglion (Inferior Ganglion), where the
peripheral and central processes meet.
o The central processes will move into the medulla via
the jugular foramen to the Nucleus of Tractus
Solitarius.
CRANIAL NERVE X
• Taste cells.
• Vagus Nerve.
o Specific to the taste buds of the Epiglottis and
Pharynx, possibly also from the soft palate.
o Runs through the Nodose Ganglion and will run
through the jugular foramen to the Nucleus of Tractus
Solitarius.
• Nerve innervation from the tongue
VI) CEREBRAL PATHWAY OF GUSTATION
• Nucleus of Tractus Solitarius
o Head toward the cranium.
o Fibers travel to the Pontine Taste Area.
o This sends fibers up to the Ventral Posteromedial
Nucleus (VPN) in the Thalamus located in the
Diencephalon.
o This sends radiating fibers out the internal capsule to
the Insula.
o It is a deep lobe within the Temporal Lobe.
o Called the Primary Gustatory Cortex.
o Taste sensations also travels to the Hippocampus for
the memory of the taste to be stored, the
Hypothalamus, or the amygdala.
VII) INJURY AND IMPACT ON GUSTATION
Olfactory Nerves.
o Taste pathways of the Insula are connected strongly
to the Olfactory Pathway.
o Taste is 80% smell, if a person has lack of smell
(Anosmia) taste will most likely be lacking as well as
they are highly intermingled.
o Olfactory nerves are replaced every 6 to 8 weeks,
and if non-permanent damage occurs to those cells,
the sense of taste could be affected whilst they
regenerate.
o They replenish every 7 to 10 days.
o They replenish quickly due to the harsh environment
of heat, cold and friction.
o If they were non permanently damaged, the sense of
taste would be impacted until the cells had a chance
to regenerate.
o Facial Nerve such as Bell’s Palsy.
o Hypoglossal pharyngeal Nerve or Vagus Nerve
impacted by diseases such as a tumor in the Jugular
Foramen or elsewhere, multiple sclerosis, or
medullary infarcts.
o Taste to certain parts of the tongue may be lost.

VIII) APPENDIX

c) The Foramen Magnum and external acoustic

IX) REVIEW QUESTIONS meatus.
d) The Jugular Foramen and internal acoustic meatus.
1) Taste buds from the facial nerve travel through what
structure to reach the Medulla 5) The papillae located on the side of the tongue are
a) Chorda Tympani called Filiform Papillae, and it is thought that they are
b) Inferior Ganglion used in milk like substance recognition as a child?
c) Pharynx True / False.
d) Epiglottis
2) What is the name of the taste buds that are located
on the Sulcus Terminalis?
a) Fungiform papillae X) REFERENCES
b) Foliate papillae
Use style “Ref”
c) Circumvallate papillae
d) Filiform papillae
(example)
3) What is NOT a taste generally recognized by the ● APA citation guide. (2016). http://www.bibme.org/citation-
guide/apa/
taste buds ● Lipson, C. (2011). Cite right: A quick guide to citation styles –
a) Sweet MLA, APA, Chicago, the sciences, professions, and more (2nd ed).
b) Savory United States of America: The University of Chicago Press, Ltd.,
c) Salty London.
● Ferraro, A. (Photographer). (2014). Liberty enlightening the
d) Sour world [digital image]. Retrieved from
e) Bitter https://www.flickr.com/photos/afer92/ 14278571753/in/set-
f) Umami 72157644617030616

4) What are the entry points into the medulla for the
Cranial Nerves relating to Gustation?
a) The spinal cord at level C3-C5.
b) The Eustachian tubes.

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