Taste buds are arranged on the tongue and recognize 5 separate taste sensations.
These are sweet, bitter, savory, salty and sour. The first three, sweet, bitter, savory function thru G-protein receptors. These respond to molecular activity around the cell and activate transduction pathways to the membrane and to the taste cell and to the brain.
The later two, salty and sour function thru ion channels. They function in opposite ways: Salty items travel thru the ion channel and affect taste cells directly. Sour items actually block the channel for recognition.
In either case the taste buds' sensations are sent electronically to the brain in much the same way sight recognition from a system of rods and cones is sent to the brain.
These are sweet, bitter, savory, salty and sour. The first three, sweet, bitter, savory function thru G-protein receptors. These respond to molecular activity around the cell and activate transduction pathways to the membrane and to the taste cell and to the brain.
The later two, salty and sour function thru ion channels. They function in opposite ways: Salty items travel thru the ion channel and affect taste cells directly. Sour items actually block the channel for recognition.
In either case the taste buds' sensations are sent electronically to the brain in much the same way sight recognition from a system of rods and cones is sent to the brain.
