The Physiology of Taste

• Level: High School
• Topic: Neurobiology and Physiology

Description: This lab only looks at taste. However, as you know, taste and smell are closely related. Taste and smell belong to our chemical sensing system known as the chemsosenses. This complicated process of taste begins when tiny molecules are released and sensed by gustatory or taste cells. The taste cells are clustered in taste buds primarily on the tongue. Many of the small bumps, known as papillae, can be seen on the tongue. At the base of each of these bumps are areas called taste buds that contain taste receptor cells. Each bud is a separate entity set off from surrounding epithelium by what is known as a CT capsule. There are four basic taste sensations, sweet, salt, sour, and bitter. Specific regions of the tongue have specific associations with these sensations. However, there are no morphological differences that correlate with functional ones. Therefore, you cannot detect the type of a taste bud simply by looking at it.

Author: Anthony Kilyanek Research Host: Gregory Florant Ph.D. Lame Deer High School Lame Deer, MT 1997 Explorations in Biomedicine Summer Research Teacher Colorado State University Fort Collins, CO 1997 Explorations in Biomedicine

Criteria useful for reviewing student-centered learning activities include:	In this activity..
An inquiry level of 4 or 5
An integrated Internet component
Assessments for content knowledge
Assessments for process skills
Addressed the "ABC" rules for humans and/or animal use
Use of multiple learning styles and opportunities for all students
Proper safety precautions and warnings

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K-12 Education

Frontiers in Physiology

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The Frontiers in Physiology programs are developed and sponsored by the American Physiological Society with additional funding from the National Center for Research Resources (Science Education Partnership Award #RR15251) at the National Institutes of Health.