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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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