How Taste Works

The sense of taste begins with the taste buds, located on top of the fungiform papillae, or the large bumps on the tongue. Other taste receptor cells can be found on the palate and in the throat. The fungiform papillae sometimes swell a little when stimulated. Alongside the fungiform papillae are the filiform papillae, little brush-shaped protrusions that lack taste buds.

The five acknowledged tastes are sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami.

Just as important to the sensation of taste are the olfactory cells in the nose which detect scent. What we perceive as taste is a complex interplay of smelling and tongue-tasting.


http://www.unmc.edu/physiology/Mann/pix_10/tongue.gif

Source: http://www.wisegeek.com/how-does-the-sense-of-taste-work.htm