THE GUSTATORY ORGANS 



135 



bipolar cells composed of the cell-body or nucleated enlargement, and 

 of two processes, one distal, the other proximal. The distal process is 

 nearly straight, and passes towards the apex of the taste-bud, where it 

 terminates in a small, highly refracting cilium-like appendage, which 

 projects into the pore above mentioned. The proximal process is more 

 delicate than the other, and is often branched and varicose ; it is 



a. 



FIG. 165, VARIOUS CELLS FROM TASTE-BUD OF RABBIT. (600 diameters.) 



a, four gustatory cells from central part ; 6, two sustentacular cells, and one gustatory cell, in 

 connection ; c, three sustentacular cells. 



believed to be directly connected with an entering nerve-fibre. 2. The 

 sustentacular cells (fig. 165, c). These are elongated cells, mostly 

 flattened, and pointed at their ends ; they lie between the gustatory 

 cells, which they thus appear to support, and in addition they form a sort 

 of envelope or covering to the taste-bud. Between the cells of the taste- 

 bud lymph-corpuscles are often seen, having probably wandered here 

 from the subjacent mucous membrane. 



