Final answer:
Von Ebner glands are specialized salivary glands in the tongue that aid in taste perception by secreting a serous fluid to cleanse taste bud receptors.
Step-by-step explanation:
Von Ebner glands, also known as gustatory glands, are specialized salivary glands located in the tongue's papillae, specifically the circumvallate and foliate papillae. These glands are responsible for secreting a serous fluid that helps to flush materials from the deep taste pores in these papillae, aiding in taste perception.
They play a critical role in maintaining the taste sensation by ensuring that taste bud receptors are free of debris and ready for new taste stimuli.
In comparison, the text from which the details are drawn describes intestinal glands, such as the crypt of Lieberkühn and Brunner's glands, which are involved in secretion within the gastrointestinal tract but are not the same as von Ebner glands.