SPECIAL SENSES IV

GUSTATION(TASTE)

elizabeth
 RECEPTOR STRUCTURE
• Its the taste bud, an ovoid structure.
• The taste bud contains 3 kinds of cells;
 Gustatory Receptor; which is a form of specialized
epithelium.
 Sustentacular cells (support cells).
 Basal cells (progenitor cells), they constantly
replace gustatory cells every 10 days.
• Each taste bud receives up to 50 afferent
nerve contacts.
• Locations of taste buds;
 Epiglottis
 Pharynx
 Larynx
 Palate
 Base of the tongue
 Tip of the tongue
 Sides of the tongue
 RECEPTOR STRUCTURE
• Taste buds on the tongue are organized into 3
kinds of papillae;
• Circumvallate papillae
 Located at the base of the tongue. They are large
and contain most of the taste buds (100 per
papillae)
 The taste buds are located on the lateral walls of
each papillae.
 Most bitter tastes are detected here.
 Sensory afferents pass into the glossopharyngeal
nerve
• Fungiform papillae
 Located at the tip of the tongue (anterior 2/3)
 Have 3-5 taste buds per papillae
 Most sweet and salty tastes are detected here.
 Sensory afferents pass into the chorda tympani
branch of facial nerve.
 RECEPTOR STRUCTURE…..
• Foliate papillae
 Shaped like circumvallate papillae but smaller.
 Located on the sides of the tongue
 Detect sour tastes.
• Most taste buds detect 2 or more taste
modalities regardless of location, especially
when the chemicals are present in high
concentrations.
• The vagus nerve supplies a few taste buds in
the larynx and upper esophagus.
A circumvallate papilla is
shown with its taste buds
indicated in turquoise.
Right, a taste bud is
shown with the taste
pore at the top and its
innervation below. The
two types of
chemoreceptor cells are
shown in color and the
supporting cells are
uncolored.
Distribution of sensitivity for the four taste qualities. B, The innervation of the anterior two thirds
and posterior one-third of the tongue by the facial and glossopharyngeal nerves. C, The
arrangement of taste buds in the three types of papillae
 CENTRAL PATHWAYS
• All afferents pass to the nucleus of tractus solitarius
regardless of origin. They then proceed via the
ventral posteromedial (VPM) thalamus before
projecting to the gustatory cortex (INSULA) at the
foot of the post-central gyrus.
1. Anterior 2/3 of the tongue
 Afferent axons pass in the Chorda tympani.
 The cell bodies of these sensory afferents are
located in the geniculate ganglion.
2. Posterior 1/3 of the tongue
 Afferent axons pass in the pass in the
glossopharyngeal nerve
 Cell bodies of these sensory afferents are
located in the petrosal ganglion.
3. The epiglottis, Larynx
 Afferent axons pass in the Vagus nerve
 Cell bodies of the sensory afferents are
located in the nodose ganglion
 TASTE TRANSDUCTION
• Taste transduction depends upon the taste modality.
• There are 5 basic tastes;
 Sweet.
 Sour
 Salty
 Bitter
 Umami (Japanese for “delicious”)
• SWEET
 The receptor is a member of the G-protein super
family known as gustducin.
 Gustducin activates phospholipase C and increases
IP3 (inositol triphosphate) and DAG.
• SOUR
 Receptor is activated by protons (acidic foods)
 Receptor is likely an ENaC (epithelial
sodium channel) or a cyclic nucleotide gated
cation channel.
• SALTY
 The receptor is an Epithelial sodium channel
(ENaC).
 Can be blocked by amiloride (like other EnaCs
present in the body).
• BITTER
 Receptor is a gustducin G-protein. Usually
activated by poisonous substances.
• UMAMI
 Receptor is mGLUR4 (Metabotropic glutamate
receptor 4).
 Activated by monosodium glutamate (also by
iridine monophosphate – IMP and guanidine
monophosphate – GMP)