Question

The sweet taste buds on the tongue are located at
A. Tip
B. Root
C. Middle
D. Between root and middle

Answer 1

Tongue is the organ that helps us to perceive taste. There are several taste buds present in the tongue which helps us to differentiate between sweet, salt, bitter, and sour tastes. Their distribution on the tongue surface is not uniform.

Step by step answer: Tongue is actually a muscular organ and is present on the floor of the buccal cavity. There is a structure called a frenulum that connects the tongue with the floor. There is a distribution of various taste buds on the tongue surface. Besides taste perception tongue also has other functions like speech, mastication, and deglutition. There are several small projections on the tongue surface. They are called papillae. Taste buds are present on these papillae. The sweet taste is perceived mostly by taste buds present at the tip of the tongue. It is marked as region 4. The bitter taste is mostly perceived by taste buds present at the root of the tongue, which is marked as region 1. Note that salt and sour tastes are perceived at the lateral regions, and are marked as 3 and 2 respectively.
Apart from taste buds, several other openings are also seen on the tongue surface. Ducts of the salivary glands are some of them.

Hence the correct option is A.

Note: The organization of taste buds on the papillae also varies. Papillae are of four types namely vallate, filiform, fungiform, and foliate. Another type of papillae called papillae simplex is also present. It can be seen only under the microscope.