The occurrence of taste buds in the palate of human adults as evidenced by light microscopy

Abstract

There is some uncertainty in the literature as to the existence of taste buds in the palate of the human adult. In those histologic studies in which the ages of the individuals have been reported, taste buds have not been found in the palates of adults, but have been found in fetuses or newborn. However, clinical studies have demonstrated taste perception in the palate of the human adult. Thus, the aim of the present study was to attempt to find taste buds in the human palate in subjects of different ages. In serial sections of selected areas of the palatal mucosa from autopsy material from individuals 0–80 years of age no taste buds could be demonstrated. However, in four of seven subjects aged 25–44 years, one or two taste buds were found in biopsis from areas of the soft palate where taste perception had been demonstrated clinically just prior to excision. Thus the present study indicates that scattered taste buds exist also in the soft palate of human adults.