Olfactory epithelium and taste buds !
- Organ
Smell relies on nerve cells in the roof of the nose, and taste on taste buds in the bumps of the tongue. Both kinds of cell are replaced over time.
Updated 2026-11-01
See it in 3D: Tongue
What it is
The olfactory epithelium is a pseudostratified epithelium in the roof of the nasal cavity that holds true sensory neurons, the only neurons exposed to the outside world and replaced throughout life. Taste buds are barrel-shaped clusters of receptor cells set within the epithelium of the lingual papillae, opening to the surface through a taste pore. Much of what we call flavour depends on smell, so the two are studied together.
Structure
- Olfactory epithelium: pseudostratified, taller than respiratory epithelium and without goblet cells.
- Olfactory neurons: bipolar, with non-motile cilia at the surface that carry the odour receptors; their unmyelinated axons cross the cribriform plate of the ethmoid to the olfactory bulb.
- Supporting (sustentacular) cells: columnar, with microvilli and nuclei high in the epithelium.
- Basal cells: stem cells that replace the olfactory neurons.
- Lamina propria: serous Bowman's glands, whose secretion dissolves odour molecules.
- Taste bud: a pale barrel-shaped structure within stratified squamous epithelium, with taste receptor cells, supporting cells and basal cells, and a taste pore at the surface.
Lingual papillae
| Papilla | Where and what it looks like | Taste buds? |
|---|---|---|
| Filiform | The most numerous; conical and keratinized, they give the dorsum its rough feel | No |
| Fungiform | Mushroom-shaped, scattered mostly over the tip and sides | Yes, on their surface |
| Circumvallate | Few and large, in a V in front of the sulcus terminalis, each ringed by a trench | Yes, in the trench walls; von Ebner glands empty into the trench |
| Foliate | Parallel folds on the back sides of the tongue | Yes, on the side walls |
Clinical notes
- Viral upper respiratory infections are a common cause of temporary loss of smell.
- With age, olfactory neuron renewal and the number of taste buds both decline.
- People who lose their sense of smell often say food «has no taste», although they can still tell sweet, salty, sour and bitter.
Test yourself
Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it.
Which cells of the olfactory epithelium replace the olfactory neurons?
The basal cells, which act as stem cells.
Which lingual papilla has no taste buds?
The filiform papilla.
Why can a cribriform plate fracture cause anosmia?
Olfactory neuron axons pass through that plate to reach the olfactory bulb and can be torn.
Which nerve carries taste from the back third of the tongue?
The glossopharyngeal nerve.
See it in 3D
The structures of Durgical's 3D anatomy where it is found.
Related
- Oral cavity, tongue and teeth
- Simple, stratified, pseudostratified and transitional epithelium
- The neuron and synapse
- The airway: from nose to bronchioles
- Cilia, microvilli and stereocilia
Educational content on normal microscopic structure and its clinical relevance; no substitute for studying slides or for a health professional's advice.
Sources: 14.1 Sensory Perception (OpenStax, Anatomy and Physiology 2e, 2022); Smell - impaired (MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia, 2026); Taste - impaired (MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia, 2026).
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Representative model, for educational purposes only.