taste cell

a receptor cell for gustatory stimuli. Each has a hairlike extension (see microvillus) that protrudes from the opening in the taste bud. Humans have about 300,000 taste cells, though the number can vary across individuals, and there are about 50 cells per taste bud. Taste cells can be divided into four anatomical types: Type I cells comprise 60% of the total, Type II cells 20%, Type III cells 15%, and Type IV cells 5%. All but Type IV cells may be involved in taste transduction. See also gustatory neuron types.

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Psychology term of the day

December 21st 2024

voir dire

voir dire

the process of questioning prospective jurors to determine if they hold biases that may reasonably interfere with their ability to act impartially in a particular trial (from Norman French, literally: “to speak the truth”). The questions may be asked in private or in open court and may be posed by the attorneys, the judge, or both. Jurors may be asked to stand down by a challenge for cause or a peremptory challenge.