Taste Notes

Taste Buds: Taste buds are

taste receptors

Taste Buds: Mostly on

tongue

Taste Buds: Tongue is covered in

papillae (projections)

Taste Buds: Taste buds are found on the sides of

vallate papillae

Taste Buds: Taste buds found on the tops of

fungiform papillae

Anatomy of Taste Buds: Taste buds are made of many

cells

Anatomy of Taste Buds: the gustatory cells respond to

taste

Anatomy of Taste Buds: They have long ___________ that are stimulated by compounds in our mouth

microvilli (gustatory hairs)

When stimulated, they ___________ and send impulses to the brain

depolarize

Sweet Biological Basis

Energy rich nutrients

Sweet Tastant example

Sucrose (most mono and di- saccharides)

Salty biological basis

Allows modulation of diet for electrolyte balance

Salty Tastant example

NaCl and other salts (KCl, ect.)

Sour biological basis

Taste of acids- ‘off food detection’

Sour tastant example

Acids (citric, tartaric, hydrochloric, phosphoric)

Bitter biological basis

allows sensing of diverse natural toxins

Bitter tastant example

Quinine, caffeine

Umami biological basis

The taste of amino acids

Umami tastant example

glutamate (amino acids) and ribonucleiotides (insinuate and guanylate)