Final answer:
The taste pathway involves sensory neurons on the tongue that detect the five tastes and send signals to the brain through cranial nerves, brainstem, thalamus, and gustatory cortex.
Step-by-step explanation:
The taste pathway begins with sensory neurons on the tongue that detect the five primary tastes: sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and umami. These sensory neurons send signals to the brain via cranial nerves, specifically the facial and glossopharyngeal nerves. These nerves synapse with neurons in the solitary nucleus in the brainstem. From the solitary nucleus, axons project to the ventral posterior nucleus of the thalamus. Finally, axons from the ventral posterior nucleus project to the gustatory cortex in the cerebral cortex, where taste is processed and consciously perceived.