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On the tongue lies receptors for taste. These receptors are known as chemoreceptors. Chemoreceptors are more popularly known as taste buds. They can respond to different chemicals within food. Olfactory receptors are also located on the tongue, but are sensitive to a much larger range of chemicals. The taste buds are receptors that lay mostly on the tongue. 10,000 taste buds lie on the tongue, while others rest on the soft plate of the mouth. The taste buds secrete certain chemicals that interact with the food being processed. These chemicals then send back nervous signals back to the taste buds. When a new impulse has reached the taste buds, they then send an impulse to the facial nerve. The facial nerve then sends a impulse to the brain. There are four main taste sensations, sweet, bitter, sour, and salty. The salty receptors lie at the tip of the tongue, the sweet receptors lie behind the salty receptors. In the mid range of the tongue lie the sour receptors, and at the posterior of the tongue lie the bitter receptors. Papillae are short peg-like extensions, which line the dorsal surface of the tongue. There are three types of papillae, sharp filiform papillae, rounded fungiform papillae, and circumvallate papillae. Taste buds can be found on the sides of the circumvallate papilla, as well as the fungiform papillae.

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