How we TasteHow we Taste

Courtesy of Your Tongue!

Anatomy of the TongueAnatomy of the Tongue

Ever Seen a Cat’s Tongue Close Up?Ever Seen a Cat’s Tongue Close Up?

How do We Taste?How do We Taste?Intro to 4 Taste RegionsIntro to 4 Taste Regions

Sour

Salty

Sweet

Bitter

To Understand Taste, look at a To Understand Taste, look at a Taste BudTaste Bud

The Buds send signals along Nerves to The Buds send signals along Nerves to the brainthe brain

Taste Buds come in 4 VarietiesTaste Buds come in 4 Varieties

Sour

Salty

Sweet

BitterEach taste bud is

receptive to a specific “chemical

family”

Inside a BudInside a Bud

Swallowing – Tongue Against Roof of MouthSwallowing – Tongue Against Roof of Mouth

Spicy Food ExplanationSpicy Food Explanation

1. Chemicals in:ginger

pepper

onions

2. Stimulate heat - pain receptors directly, simulating the experience of heat

What creates the heat/pain we feel when we eat spicy food?

What about Cool Mint?What about Cool Mint?

Mint is a flavor picked up by sweet, sour, bitter and salty taste buds

Mint temporarily inhibits (stops) the buds from sending a signal, including some heat nerves in the tongue

An absence of heat SEEMS to be COOLNESS.

Colds and TasteColds and Taste Much of taste comes from

vapors that reach the nose

Smell is often confused with taste although they usually work as partners to produce TASTE!

With a cold, sensory nerves do not work properly, so you can’t smell or taste properly.

Law of Diminishing ReturnsLaw of Diminishing Returns

1. The more bites you take

2. The more the nerves fire

3. Nerves get tired

4. Signal weakens

So ….Taste enjoyment falls

Solution:

Eat a variety of things!

Now, we’ll do a Lab that Tests Now, we’ll do a Lab that Tests out These Receptorsout These Receptors