Taste buds are small, specialized sensory receptors that are responsible for detecting the five basic tastes: sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami. They are located on the tongue, as well as on the roof of the mouth, the cheeks, and the pharynx.On the tongue, taste buds are located on small, raised structures called papillae. There are three types of papillae on the tongue: circumvallate, foliate, and fungiform. The circumvallate papillae are the largest and are located at the back of the tongue. They contain the most taste buds and are responsible for detecting bitter and salty tastes. The foliate papillae are located on the sides of the tongue and are responsible for detecting sour tastes. The fungiform papillae are scattered throughout the front of the tongue and are responsible for detecting sweet and umami tastes.The taste buds on the roof of the mouth, the cheeks, and the pharynx are responsible for detecting sour and bitter tastes, and they are located on the upper surface of the tongue. These taste buds are called extra-oral taste buds.The taste buds are made up of specialized cells called taste receptor cells, which are responsible for detecting the different types of tastes. These cells have small hair-like structures called microvilli, which are covered in taste receptors. When food or liquid comes into contact with the taste buds, these receptors bind to the molecules in the food and send signals to the brain, which interprets them as different tastes.Taste buds are constantly being regenerated and replaced, with new taste buds developing every few days. The number of taste buds a person has can vary, with some people having more or less taste buds than others. Additionally, as we age, the number of taste buds decreases and the sensitivity of taste buds can decrease.In summary, Taste buds are small, specialized sensory receptors that are responsible for detecting the five basic tastes: sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami. They are located on the tongue, as well as on the roof of the mouth, the cheeks, and the pharynx. They are made up of specialized cells called taste receptor cells, which are responsible for detecting the different types of tastes. They are constantly being regenerated and replaced, with new taste buds developing every few days. The number of taste buds a person has can vary, with some people having more or less taste buds than others. Additionally, as we age, the number of taste buds decreases and the sensitivity of taste buds can decrease.