Gastration/Taste

Chemical stimuli

Substances that provoke a response in taste perception, known as tastants.

Lingual Papillae

Visible bumps on the tongue that aid in the movement of food and sense its texture.

Function of Lingual Papillae

Aid in the tongue’s movement of food and sense a food’s texture (mouthfeel).

Taste Buds

Structures that resemble garlic bulbs and contain taste cells and basal cells.

Taste cells

Cells within taste buds that have microvilli, act as receptors for tastants, and connect to taste pores.

Basal cells

Stem cells in taste buds that replace dead taste cells and process sensory information before it reaches the brain.

Microvilli

Hair-like structures on taste cells that interact with dissolved food chemicals.

Taste pore

Opening on the surface of the tongue leading to taste cells, where they interact with dissolved food chemicals.

Location of Lingual Papillae

Most abundant on the tongue, particularly at the tip.

Replacement of taste cells

Basal cells multiply to replace dead taste cells in taste buds.