mouth and tongue Flashcards
(14 cards)
What is the primary function of the tongue?
The tongue allows us to enjoy the sense of taste.
What are the bumps on the tongue called?
Papillae.
What are the sensory receptors inside each papilla called?
Taste buds.
How many cranial nerves transmit taste impulses to the cerebrum?
Three.
What tastes can the human tongue detect?
Bitter, sour, sweet, salty, and umami.
What does ‘umami’ mean in Japanese?
‘Yummy’.
Can all taste buds experience all five tastes?
Yes.
What percentage of taste is influenced by smell?
90% smell to 10% taste.
What role do olfactory receptors play in taste?
They detect the smell of food which influences taste.
What additional sensations can receptors on the tongue sense?
Temperature, pain, discomfort, and tactile properties of food.
What are the four conditions for a flavor to be perceived by the tongue?
- To be palatable
- Being soluble in saliva
- Sufficient concentration to stimulate taste buds
- Touching the taste buds.
What must sapid molecules do to be perceived by the tongue?
They must come into contact with the tongue and stimulate the taste buds.
What happens to flavors once they stimulate the taste buds?
They are transformed into nerve impulses that propagate through cranial nerves to the brainstem.
Where are taste impulses finally analyzed in the brain?
In the taste area of the brain.
