Question

The three main cells that make up the taste bud are the basal cells, supporting cells, and the gustatory cells.

True or False

Answer 1

The three main cells that make up the taste bud are gustatory cells or receptor cells, basal cells and supporting cells. So the statement is TRUE.

Taste buds are present in the tongue, pharynx, palate and upper third portion of oesophagus. This buds are innervated by 7th, 9th and 10th cranial nerve. These taste buds are used for the sensation of the taste . The taste buds have a basic structure , that includes receptor cells or gustatory cells, basal replacement cells and supporting cells

i) Gustatory cells: This cells are also called receptor cells because it binds with the gustatory molecules for the initiation of taste sensation. This receptor cells are basically a bipolar type, gustatory molecules are binds with one end of the receptor cell and the sensation is carried by the nerve fibre of the another end of the receptor cell. This receptor cells have microvilli or cilia that binds with the gustatory molecules in the oral cavity. The nerve fibre are the sensory afferent type that carry sensory information about the taste of the molecule.

ii) Basal cells: Basal cells are situated in the basal part of the taste buds. These are actually a stem cells that helps in the regenaration of the taste cells. Basically taste cells in the taste buds have a short life span (10 days) . So this basal cell helps to replace the old died taste cells by new taste cells (Gustatory cells or receptor cells) . This new taste cells are differentiated from the basal cells of the taste buds.

iii) Supporting cells: Supporting cells are also called sustentacular cells because it supports in the taste sensation to the gustatory cells. It is situated in the interior space of two gustatory cells and helps in the clearance of excess neurotransmitter while transduction of taste sensation from thr gustatory cells. This cells are also elongated on shape and situated beside the gustatory or receptor cells for supporting in the taste sensation.

So the statement about taste buds in the questions is TRUE.