Taste Buds Found In Lungs

** Note:  this post is meant to provide a model for current NYOS Biology students to view & learn from, as they are developing their own article-reviewing skills.  Plus, it's an awesome article!  This review was written during the 2010-11 school year.**


Morgan D. -- Scientists from the University of Maryland and Johns Hopkins recently found that lungs have “taste buds.” However, they are different than taste buds in your mouth. They can only “taste” (or rather “detect”) bitter flavors. These detections, also unlike taste buds in your mouth, do not send signals to our brains. However, the bitter flavors seemed to “[relax] the lung tissue tremendously,” The scientists believe that this may help those who suffer from asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease by relaxing and opening the airways. But they do caution people to not try out this hypothesis, as it was found by accident and has not yet been truly tested.

I found this article to be incredibly interesting! The concept that we have “taste buds” on our lungs has never entered my head. It is insane and ridiculous, impossible, even. And yet it is a true scientific discovery (unless the researchers made a mistake, which I doubt). To think that we as humans are trying more and more to look at the BIG PICTURE, and asking questions about life on other planets. And here we are on Earth, still making new and impossible discoveries about our own bodies! It is truly amazing to witness our species continue to grow and learn, ever seeking knowledge (while we school kids hate learning at school. Ironic, isn’t it?).

Link:  Taste Buds Found In Lungs