Chapter 16, Problem 1CYU

Summary Introduction

To review:

The tissue type that forms taste receptor cells.

Introduction:

The special senses include taste, smell, hearing, sight, and equilibrium. These are controlled by the somatic and visceral branches of the peripheral nervous system. These special senses are recognized by specialized receptor cells that in turn, produce responses against respective stimuli.

Explanation of Solution

  

Receptor cells for special senses are located in the head region. They are either present in the specific sensory organ or tissues. The taste bud contains receptors for sensing taste and are located in the tongue, pharynx, posterior palate, epiglottis, and inner check surface.

Taste buds are specifically located in papillae that are peglike projections over the surface. Each bud contains 50-100 epithelial cells, which are of two types: gustatory and basal epithelial cells. The gustatory epithelial cell possesses microvilli (gustatory hair) that projects through the taste pore. The saliva bathes these microvilli and the dissolved molecules stimulate the gustatory epithelial cells to excite the sensory neurons that innervate the taste buds. The function of basal epithelial cells is to proliferate and replace the dead gustatory cells.