446 



THE SPECIAL SENSES 



Xaste BuM',- 



FiG. 208 — Section of oiroumvallate papilla. 



The fungiform papillse are so called from their resem- 

 blance to a mushroom, and consist of small, rounded ele- 

 vations supported on short, slender stalks. They are 

 found all over the middle and fore part of the tongue on 

 the upper surface. 



The fihform papillse are most numerous and the smallest, 

 and appear as little pointed projections scattered all over 

 the upper surface and edges of the tongue. 



In the walls of tlie cir- 

 cumvaUate papillse, in 

 some of the fungiform 

 papillse, and in portions 

 of the pharynx, palate, 

 and epiglottis, and even 

 in the vocal cords, are 

 peculiar structures known 

 as taste buds. These taste 

 buds are oval bodies composed of a number of over- 

 lapping epithehal ceUs (protective) 

 surrounding a core of elongated or 

 taste cells which project through a 

 pore at the top some stiff hairlike 

 processes and are connected at the 

 base with the taste nerve fibers. 

 The hairlike extensions constitute 

 the part of these organs which is 

 directly stimulated by the tasted 

 substance. The impulse thus origi- 

 nated is passed through the body 

 of the taste cells and finally stim- 

 ulates the terminal branches of the taste nerve fibers 

 themselves. These taste buds, therefore, may be con- 



Tasle Cells 



Fig. 209 — A, isolated taste 

 bud, from whose upper 

 free end project the ends 

 of the taste cells; Ji, sup- 

 porting or protecting cell; 

 Cf taste cell. 



