Final answer:
Bumps on the tongue, called papillae, contain taste buds that detect different tastes through specialized receptor cells. There are several types of papillae, each with a different distribution of taste buds, contributing to the complex sense of taste.
Step-by-step explanation:
The visible bumps on the tongue are called papillae, which contain taste buds. Taste buds are responsible for detecting the five basic tastes: sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and umami (meaty). These tastes are sensed through specialized gustatory receptor cells within the taste buds that respond to chemical stimuli dissolved in saliva. When these cells are stimulated, they release neurotransmitters that activate sensory neurons connected to the facial, glossopharyngeal, and vagus cranial nerves, thus sending taste information to the brain.
There are different types of papillae: filiform, fungiform, foliate, and circumvallate. Filiform papillae are most numerous and cover the entire surface of the tongue, providing texture but do not contain taste buds. Fungiform papillae, primarily on the anterior two-thirds of the tongue, contain a few taste buds each. Foliate papillae, located on the sides of the tongue, have multiple taste buds. Lastly, the larger circumvallate papillae, at the back of the tongue in an inverted 'V' shape, each contain up to 250 taste buds.
Taste is an essential part of the gustatory system, which is interconnected with the sense of smell to enrich the perception of flavors and contribute to the overall sensory experience of eating.