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4 SENSE OF TASTE
Sense of taste detects the presence of chemical substances in food & drinks. Its sensory organ is the tongue.

Structure of human tongue

Surface of the tongue is rough because it has a group of cells for detecting tastes that forms a taste bud.

Structure of human tongue

Each taste bud is made up of many (between 50-150) receptor cells. Receptor cells live for only 1 to 2 weeks and then are replaced by new receptor cells.

Taste bud

Structure of human tongue

There are 4 main types of taste buds that detect: Sweet, Bitter, Salty, Sour Taste receptors are stimulated only by substances that are soluble in saliva or are in liquid form.

Structure of human tongue

Saliva dissolves the food substances in the mouth Dissloved food substances stimulate the taste receptors The taste receptors send messages to the brain in the form of nerve impulses via the nerves

The brain interprets the messages & identifies the taste

The sense of taste in relation to the sense of smell

Buccal cavity is linked to nasal cavity. Hence, taste is affected by the sense of smell. For instance, when you are having common cold, you will find it difficult to tell different tastes apart.