Taste E.L. Be able to describe how the tongue allows us to taste things.

Tasty facts Food placed in the mouth is partially dissolved in saliva which releases chemicals in the food that stimulate the taste buds This stimulation triggers neural impulses to the brain and results in the experience of taste There are THREE different nerves that carry taste information to the brain

The tongue There are about 10,000 taste buds and they are located mainly on the tongue Each taste bud contains 5 to 150 taste cells which last 10 to 14 days and are continually replaced

Taste Sensations Five basic taste sensations: Sweetness (mostly sugars) E.g. lollies, desserts Sourness (mostly acids) E.g. lemons, limes Saltiness (mostly salts) Bitterness (mainly chemicals that have no food value or are toxic) E.g. unsweetened cocoa and pure dark chocolate Umami (savory)

How do we taste so many different flavours if we only have five types of taste sensations? Most taste experiences are complex and result from the combined effects of receptor cells in the mouth and nose, which produce the different flavours you experience.

The Tongue Map Myth Fact: All your taste buds detect all taste qualities. Myth: Different areas of the tongue are more sensitive to one of the four primary tastes.