GLOSSARY

Taste buds are small onion-shaped structures housing the taste receptor cells, found mainly in the papillae of the tongue and also in the soft palate, pharynx, and epiglottis.

Structure

• Number: about 2,000–8,000 taste buds in adults (the number is highly variable).
• Cells: each bud has 50–150 receptor cells that contact saliva through a taste pore.
• Renewal: receptor cells are replaced every 10–14 days, which is why the tongue recovers quickly after a burn.

Types of Tongue Papillae