Taste receptor cells are the specialised cells inside each taste bud, about 50-100 per bud, whose tips reach the taste pore. Different cells detect sweet, bitter, umami, salty and sour.
| Location | Within taste buds of the tongue papillae, soft palate, epiglottis and pharynx |
|---|---|
| Parts |
|
| Nerve Supply | Facial nerve (chorda tympani, front two-thirds of tongue); Glossopharyngeal nerve (back third); Vagus nerve (epiglottis) |
| Blood Supply | Lingual artery; Ascending pharyngeal and palatine arteries |
Detect chemical taste qualities of food and drink and pass signals to sensory nerves.
They are replaced every 1-2 weeks, so chemotherapy and radiotherapy commonly disturb taste. Zinc deficiency, some medicines and viral infections also alter taste. Many complaints of lost taste are actually loss of smell.
Distorted taste, often metallic, from medicines, chemotherapy or infection.
Loss of taste from nerve damage or destruction of taste cells.
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