Anthony J Greene 1
Gustation or Taste
Anthony J Greene 2
Taste (PTC Paper)
• Diet regulation• Last chance to detect a poison prior to
ingestion
Anthony J Greene 3
Teeth• TeethHelp us to Digest and Break down Foods that weEat in order To be able toTaste. EnzymesAlso help usTo break down Carbohydrates
like starches and sugars
Anthony J Greene 4
Tongue
• Muscle– Taste flavors in food: salty, sweet, bitter, sour, and
umami (msg)– Helps to digest– Speech articulation– Communication– Cleans teeth– Full of nerves and blood vessels
Anthony J Greene 5
Structures on the tongue
Papillae- nipple-like structures of the tongue• Circumvallate-flat mounds at back • Folliate-Folds at the sides• Filliform-cone shape all over and gives rough
appearance• Fungiform-Mushroom shaped, tip and sides
Anthony J Greene 6
Circumvallates
Folliate
Filliform
Fungiform
Anatomy of Tongue
Anthony J Greene 7
Anatomy of Taste
• Taste Receptor Cells or Taste Buds• Taste Buds occur on the soft palate and on
some Papillae - Folliate, Circumvallate, Fungiform,
• Filliform (have no taste buds) middle of the tongue is taste blind
• About 10,000 taste buds
Anthony J Greene 8
Taste Anatomy
Anthony J Greene 9
Taste Anatomy
Anthony J Greene 10
Central Gustatory Pathway
Taste buds - Solitary Tract to brain
(part of the Medulla), Thalamus,
and Frontal LobeCranial Nerves 7, 9,
and 10
Anthony J Greene 11
Taste and Nerves• Taste Neurons are determined by intensity and
quality of the flavor• Taste depends on many factors like:– Internal hunger– Peripherial, smells, chewing, habits like desserts after
meals– Culture– Genetics http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=palWegLPeSA
saccharin or tasteless?
Anthony J Greene 12
Properties of Taste1. Taste preferences for familiar food2. Single trial learning - taste aversion3. Self-Balancing diet
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcJjMnHoIBI
