darkly staining cells in a taste bud with long, hairlike microvilli that contain closely packed microtubules and extend into the gustatory pore; the taste cells stand in synaptic contact with sensory nerve fibers of the facial, glossopharyngeal, or vagus nerves. Synonym(s): gustatory cells
taste cells
(tāst selz) Darkly staining cells in a taste bud that have long, hairlike microvilli. Synonym(s): gustatory cells. LegalSeeCell