Chapter 7: GUSTATION

Question 1

How many taste buds?

Answer 1

• approx 10000 in tongue, plate, pharynx, larynx

- most arranged around papillae

Question 2

How do cilia project gustatory info?

Answer 2

• located at the end of each cell
• project through opening of taste buds (the pore) into saliva that coats tongue
• Lifespan of 10 days

Question 3

How do you taste salt?

Answer 3

• salt receptors
• a substance must ionize
• receptor is a simple sodium channel
• sodium enters the taste cell and depolarizes it.

Question 4

How do you taste sour?

Answer 4

• response to hydrogen ions present in acidic solutions

- anions also have an effect

Question 5

How do you taste bitter, sweet and Umami?

Answer 5

• linked to G proteins
• Bitterness and Sweetness receptors may be similar
• Umami receptor is similar in structure to sweet receptors

Question 6

How is the gustatory info transmitted in the gustatory pathway?

Answer 6

• transmitted through cranial nerves
• diff flavours activates diff regions in the primary gustatory area of the insular cortex
• gus cortex also receives thermal, mechanical, visceral, and nociceptive stimuli: determines if you can eat the food without getting hurt