Evidence that taste buds are not present on the human adult uvula.
Publication/Presentation Date
7-1-2002
Abstract
We conducted a study to investigate whether taste buds are present on the human adult uvula. Our impetus was to determine whether surgical procedures that involve removal of the uvula can affect taste perception. Five human uvulae were removed via a modified carbon dioxide laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty in an outpatient office setting. The uvulae were serially sectioned and stained with a solution specific for membrane-bound calcium-modulated adenosine triphosphatase, a high concentration of which is found in taste receptors. Examination of the stained sections under light microscopy failed to show that any taste receptors were present in any of the uvulae. This finding suggests that the taste disturbances noted after surgical procedures involving removal of the uvula are not attributable to a loss of taste receptors.
Volume
81
Issue
7
First Page
456
Last Page
457
ISSN
0145-5613
Published In/Presented At
Ambro, B. T., Pribitkin, E. A., Wysocki, L., Brand, J. G., & Keane, W. M. (2002). Evidence that taste buds are not present on the human adult uvula. Ear, nose, & throat journal, 81(7), 456–457.
Disciplines
Business Administration, Management, and Operations | Health and Medical Administration | Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
PubMedID
12149841
Department(s)
Administration and Leadership
Document Type
Article