THE TONGUE- its Receptors and Factors that determine taste

Tongue – the sense organ for taste. The tongue is covered with taste buds, the receptors for taste that are distributed on its surface and sides, and to a lesser extent on the surface of the pharynx and the larynx. There are about 10, 000 taste buds in the human tongue. Taste buds are grouped together to form the papillae. Each bud contains taste receptors. These receptors respond to four basic taste senses: sweet, salty, sour and bitter. Some of taste buds, respond to only few of them, and some to all the four taste sense

PARTS OF TONGUE

Papillae - these are the elevations of the tongue.

Taste buds - lies in the crevices between the papillae, this are shaped like a flask and each one has an opening called the pore.

Taste Receptors- this are the taste cells found inside each taste buds.

TASTE DISORDER

AGUESIA- loss of taste, this arises when the nerves responsible for taste are damaged.