Taste buds are specialized sensory organs embedded within the papillae. Each taste bud consists of taste receptor cells, supporting cells, and basal cells. Taste receptor cells have microvilli that extend into the taste pore, where they interact with tastants (substances that can be tasted).
The primary function of taste buds is to detect and transmit taste information to the brain. They can sense five basic tastes: sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami. The sensory information is relayed to the brain via cranial nerves VII (facial nerve), IX (glossopharyngeal nerve), and X (vagus nerve).
