Taste receptor cells (buds)

Category

Taste

Function

Sweet, umami, bitter, sour, salty

Quantity

~4,000–5,000 buds (range ~500–10,000); 50–150 cells / bud

Density

Fungiform ~30 papillae / cm² at tip vs ~3 mid-tongue

Distribution

Circumvallate ~48%, foliate ~28%, fungiform ~24%, plus palate & epiglottis

Relative Deployment

Notes

T1R heterodimers (sweet, umami), ~25 T2Rs (bitter), ion channels for sour and salt. All five modalities exist across most oral fields — the classic tongue map is a myth.

Interacting Systems & Components

• Taste Receptor (broader category)
• Nervous System (sensory signaling)