Taste: Vertebrates

In vertebrates, taste is the sense mediated by specialized epithelial cells, which form sensory end-organs (taste buds) that synapse onto the distal ends of primary sensory neurons of the facial, glossopharyngeal, or vagal nerves. Numerous sensory cues work together to determine whether a food item is considered favorable, but the gustatory (taste) system generally provides the final determination of food palatability. Taste is fundamental to life as consumed food provides important energy necessary for growth, homeostatic functions, and the ability to maintain a healthy immune system. In vertebrates, the different taste sensory systems govern a large range of animal behaviors, especially during feeding