Taste Flashcards
What is a main function of taste?
Avoidance of potentially toxic compounds
What section of the population are affected by chemosensory dysfunctions?
Elderly
What are chemoreceptors?
Receptors which are stimulated by chemical substances
What are 4 examples of chemoreceptors?
- Cutaneous nociceptors
- Circulatory sensors
- Olfactory receptors
- Taste receptors
Why do two nostrils receive slightly different chemical signatures?
Allows finer discrimination of odours
How are smells sensed?
Volatile chemicals are inhaled into nasal passages and stimulate olfactory receptors
What is the loss of smell called?
Anosmia
Name 5 taste sensations
- Salty
- Sour
- Bitter
- Sweet
- Umami
What is the loss of taste called?
Ageusia
What simulates a salty taste?
Positive charged sodium ions
What simulates a sour taste?
H⁺ ions
What stimulates a bitter taste?
Alkaloids
What stimulates a sweet taste?
Saccharine
What stimulates an umami taste?
Glutamate or MSG
Rank the 5 tastes from most sensitive to least sensitive
- Bitter
- Sour
- Umami
- Salty / Sweet