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Taste Buds and Receptors

Taste Buds and Receptors

Gustation, or the sense of taste, is intrinsically linked to the anatomical structures located on the tongue. This organ's surface, along with the entirety of the oral cavity, is adorned with stratified squamous epithelium. Evident on the tongue are elevated structures known as papillae (singular = papilla), which house the mechanisms for the transduction of gustatory stimuli. Four distinct types of papillae exist, each identified by their unique morphological attributes: the circumvallate,...

The Tongue and Taste Buds

The Tongue and Taste Buds

The surface of the tongue is covered with various small bumps called papillae, which either distribute what has been ingested (filiform papillae) or contain the sensory taste (or gustatory) receptor cells (fungiform, circumvallate, and foliate papillae). Embedded within each taste-related papilla are the taste buds—clusters of 30 to 100 gustatory receptor cells.

Gastrulation

Gastrulation

Gastrulation establishes the three primary tissues of an embryo: the ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm. This developmental process relies on a series of intricate cellular movements, which in humans transforms a flat, “bilaminar disc” composed of two cell sheets into a three-tiered structure. In the resulting embryo, the endoderm serves as the bottom layer, and stacked directly above it is the intermediate mesoderm, and then the uppermost ectoderm. Respectively, these tissue strata will form...

The Physiology of Taste

The Physiology of Taste

The perception of a salty flavor is facilitated by sodium ions within the oral salivary fluid. Upon consumption of a salty substance, salt crystals disassemble, leading to the liberation of its constituents—Na+ and Cl- ions. These ions subsequently dissolve into the salivary fluid present in the oral cavity. The external environment of the gustatory cells experiences an elevation in Na+ concentration, thereby establishing a potent concentration gradient. This gradient propels the diffusion of...

Gustation

Gustation

Gustation is a chemical sense that, along with olfaction (smell), contributes to our perception of taste. It starts with the activation of receptors by chemical compounds (tastants) dissolved in the saliva. The saliva and filiform papillae on the tongue distribute the tastants and increase their exposure to the taste receptors.

Neurulation

Neurulation

Neurulation is the embryological process which forms the precursors of the central nervous system and occurs after gastrulation has established the three primary cell layers of the embryo: ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm. In humans, the majority of this system is formed via primary neurulation, in which the central portion of the ectoderm—originally appearing as a flat sheet of cells—folds upwards and inwards, sealing off to form a hollow neural tube. As development proceeds, the anterior...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 12, 2026

Method of Studying Palatal Fusion using Static Organ Culture

Method of Studying Palatal Fusion using Static Organ Culture

Published on: September 19, 2015

Palate morphogenesis: current understanding and future directions.

Robert M Greene¹, M Michele Pisano

¹Department of Molecular, Cellular and Craniofacial Biology, University of Louisville, Birth Defects Center, ULSD, Louisville, Kentucky 40292, USA. dr.bob.greene@gmail.com

Birth Defects Research. Part C, Embryo Today : Reviews

|June 15, 2010

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

This study reviews orofacial embryology, focusing on how signaling pathways and epigenetics guide craniofacial development. Understanding these processes is key to unraveling the complexities of palate formation.

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Isolation and Time-Lapse Imaging of Primary Mouse Embryonic Palatal Mesenchyme Cells to Analyze Collective Movement Attributes

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Live Imaging of Mouse Secondary Palate Fusion

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Last Updated: Jun 12, 2026

Method of Studying Palatal Fusion using Static Organ Culture

Method of Studying Palatal Fusion using Static Organ Culture

Published on: September 19, 2015

Isolation and Time-Lapse Imaging of Primary Mouse Embryonic Palatal Mesenchyme Cells to Analyze Collective Movement Attributes

Isolation and Time-Lapse Imaging of Primary Mouse Embryonic Palatal Mesenchyme Cells to Analyze Collective Movement Attributes

Published on: February 13, 2021

Live Imaging of Mouse Secondary Palate Fusion

Live Imaging of Mouse Secondary Palate Fusion

Published on: July 27, 2017

Area of Science:

Developmental Biology
Genetics
Molecular Biology

Background:

Traditional inductivism is complemented by bioinformatics and systems biology in modern biological research.
Craniofacial development, particularly secondary palate formation, serves as a model for studying complex embryogenesis.
Cellular signal transduction pathways are crucial for understanding embryonic development.

Purpose of the Study:

To review fundamental principles of orofacial embryology.
To elucidate the roles of TGFbeta, BMP, Shh, and Wnt signaling in palatal morphogenesis.
To examine the contribution of epigenetics, including miRNAs and DNA methylation, to cell differentiation during palate development.

Main Methods:

Review of existing literature on orofacial embryology and developmental biology.
Analysis of cellular signal transduction pathways involved in embryogenesis.
Examination of epigenetic mechanisms regulating gene expression and differentiation.

Main Results:

Signal transduction pathways (TGFbeta, BMP, Shh, Wnt) are essential for palatal morphogenesis.
Medial edge epithelial differentiation is a critical aspect of palate development.
Epigenetic factors like miRNAs and DNA methylation play a significant role in controlling cell differentiation.

Conclusions:

The interplay of signaling pathways and epigenetic regulation is fundamental to understanding palate development.
Further research into epigenetics offers deeper insights into the complexities of palatal morphogenesis.
This review synthesizes current knowledge, highlighting key molecular and genetic mechanisms in craniofacial development.