Taste Buds and Sensation Concepts

Taste buds are chemo-receptive organs responsible for taste sensation, located mainly on the tongue. They develop during intrauterine life and are maintained by associated nerves. Structurally, taste buds are ovoid and contain various cell types. There are five primary taste sensations: sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and umami. Nerve supply to taste buds varies by location, with different nerves innervating different areas.

Where are most taste buds located in the oral cavity?

• On the inner cheeks

• On the dorsal surface of the tongue

• On the ventral surface of the tongue

• On the gums

What is the origin of taste buds during development?

• Mesodermal

• Endodermal

• Neural

• Ectodermal

What shape are taste buds often compared to?

• Cuboidal

• Spherical

• Barrel-shaped

• Pyramidal

Which type of cell in taste buds has numerous long microvilli?

• Type 4 cells

• Type 3 cells

• Type 2 cells

• Type 1 cells

What percentage of taste bud cells are Type 2 cells?

• 3%

• 60%

• 30%

• 7%

What is the role of Type 4 cells in taste buds?

• They form the taste pore

• They are undifferentiated basal cells

• They are support cells

• They are functional receptor cells

Which taste sensation is not traditionally considered one of the five primary tastes?

• Spicy

• Salty

• Sweet

• Umami

Which nerve is responsible for taste reception in the anterior two-thirds of the tongue?

• Glossopharyngeal nerve

• Greater Petrosal branch of the facial nerve

• Vagus nerve

• Chorda Tympani branch of the facial nerve

Which nerve innervates the taste buds in the soft palate?

• Chorda Tympani branch of the facial nerve

• Glossopharyngeal nerve

• Vagus nerve

• Greater Petrosal branch of the facial nerve

Which nerve innervates the taste buds in the pharynx and epiglottis?

• Greater Petrosal branch of the facial nerve

• Glossopharyngeal nerve

• Vagus nerve

• Chorda Tympani branch of the facial nerve