C_S_D 4430 Lecture Notes - Lecture 28: Parietal Lobe, Thalamus, Cranial Nerves
Document Summary
Located in tongue, hard and soft palates, the roof of the tongue, and in the gut. Specially designed receptor cells are involved in perception of 5 taste qualities: Flavor arises from the complex integration of the taste qualities plus input from the olfactory and somatosensory systems. Salty tastes arise from salts, containing ions such as na, k, and ca. Sour tastes arise from acids with are high in h content. These ions pass through open ion channels to depolarize the cells directly. Following initial depolarization, voltage-sensitive ca ion channels open. Ca moves into cell causing release of nts from synaptic vesicles. Bitter and sweet taste receptors have receptor proteins to which sweet and bitter substances bind. The binding activates a second messenger to depolarize the cell. When both parts are activated, they also interact with the other four taste. Umami intensifies salty and sweet, and balances bitter and sour.
