ORGA^ 



381 



5. ORGAN OF TASTE. 

 The true organs of taste are the so-called taste buds. The-e 



o 



are present especially on the upper surface of the tongue in 

 the circumvallate papillae. They are found in some animals 

 (rabbit) in the papilla foliata (Figs. 122 and 270). They are 

 met with also in the fungiform papillae, in the soft palate, 

 the uvula, and the posterior surface of the epiglottis. 



'Epithelium 





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fibi'f* . &*".> 



I', if !<>l!<li-~~~~- <'. ^5*^ v 



indtndil 11 



' 

 Vertical section through tlio |iapilla foliata of a rabbit, 



Taste buds are spherical or oval masses of cells which occupy 

 the whole thickness of the epithelial layer in which they lie. 

 At the peripheral end there is an opening in the epithelium 

 called the taste pore, or gustatory pore. 



In each taste bud there can be distinguished two kinds of 

 epithelial cells: the supporting cells, and the gustatory cells 

 ( neuro-epithelial cells). 



1. The supportiiHj cells are situated especially on the surface 

 of the taste bud, but are present also in its interior. They are 



