taste

• What are the five classic tastes?

  Sweet, sour, salt, bitter, umami
• What substances are associated with the sweet taste?

  Sucrose, fructose, aspartame, amino acids
• Which taste is associated with hydrogen?

  Sour
• What is the primary substance associated with the salty taste?

  Sodium
• Which substances are linked to the bitter taste?

  Humulone, quinine
• What substance is associated with the umami taste?

  Glutamate
• What are some other tastes beyond the classic five?

  • Spicy (capsaicin)
  • Fattiness (triglycerides)
  • Metallic (galvanic reaction)
  • Cool (menthol)
  • Astringency
  • Chalky (calcium)
• How are taste receptors organized in the body?

  Taste receptors are organized in taste buds, primarily located in papillae on the tongue.
• What type of papillae do not contain taste buds?

  Filiform papillae
• Where else, besides the tongue, are taste receptors found?

  Taste receptors are also found in the pharynx, palate, and epiglottis.
• How many taste buds do humans have approximately?

  Around 8000
• How many taste receptor cells are typically found in one taste bud?

  Few to 150 taste receptor cells
• What is the role of microvilli in taste receptors?

  Microvilli are the site of transduction and lie in fluid-filled taste pores.
• What is the receptor cycle duration for taste receptor cells?

  About a 10-day receptor cycle
• What are type II taste cells responsible for?

  Sweet, bitter, and umami tastes
• Which receptors are involved in the sweet taste?

  T1R2 and T1R3
• What is the role of alpha-gustducin in taste transduction?

  It activates PLCbeta2, leading to calcium release from the endoplasmic reticulum.
• Why do cats lack the ability to taste sweetness?

  Because T1R2 is a pseudogene in felidae.
• What is the function of type III taste cells?

  They are involved in detecting salt and sour tastes.
• How do weak acids affect sour taste perception?

  Weak acids can diffuse easily and activate sour taste receptors.
• What happens during depolarization in taste cells?

  It leads to an action potential and intracellular calcium influx.
• How do type II and type III taste cells interact?

  Type II cells release ATP that activates type III cells.
• What is population coding in gustatory information processing?

  It refers to the CNS comparing broad responses of many neurons.
• Where does taste information first integrate in the central gustatory pathways?

  In the nucleus tractus solitarius.
• How does taste response selectivity change in the central nervous system?

  Responses become more selective as they progress to the thalamus.
• What are the innate taste responses?

  • Stimulation of salivation
  • Cephalic phase of digestion
  • Swallowing food or gagging
  • Attraction or avoidance to certain foods
  • Conscious perception of pleasantness/disgust
• What are learned taste responses?

  • Aversive taste conditioning
  • Acquired food preferences
• What contributes to flavor perception?

  • Taste (gustation)
  • Smell (olfaction)
  • Pungency (trigeminal)
  • Texture (trigeminal)
  • Temperature (trigeminal)
• What is retronasal olfaction's role in flavor perception?

  Retronasal olfaction contributes to the overall flavor experience.