0
No, you need taste buds, not saliva to taste food.
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
Add your answer:
Earn +20 pts
Identify the role of saliva in tasting?
Saliva is produced by salivary glands in the mouth. It has many functions, one of which is to moisten food and make the food molecules soluble. This helps us to taste because in order to taste food, the molecules must be in solution.I am a first year medical student and although I have not heard that saliva is necessary to taste food, below I describe why it may and may not be true.On the tongue there are many small bumbs called papillae. there are four types of papillae, 3 of which are associated with taste buds. The papillae are surrounded by depressions, like a moat or trench, at the bottom of these moats and on the walls there are glands (called Ebner's glands) and taste buds, respectively. The saliva acts as a solvent for the tastants (chemicals that activate our taste buds), and being that our tast buds are on the walls of the papillae it makes sene that they need a solvent to be carried to the taste buds. View this figure of the papillae with taste buds.I am unaware of the saliva processing the food in a way that is necessary for taste bud stimulation. Unless the enzymes present in saliva (amylase being the most predominant) or an unknown carrier protein similar to the ones used for smelling is necessary, I don't see why any solvent (liquid) couldn't be sufficient to allow for tastant-tast bud interaction. If a solvent is necessary rather than some saliva-tastant interaction, than liquids should be easily tastable, but solids without a liquid would be more difficult to taste.I hope my explination helped. Just to note I have 5 books that specifically discuss tast and saliva and, in terms of taste, they only mention it being used as a solvent for tastants.To taste food some of it must be dissolved in water. The saliva dissolves some of the food so you are able to taste it.The extracts of it...it just does
What needs to happen to food before you are able to taste it?
It has to be dissolved in water. Sliva begin this process. The saliva and food wash over the taste buds. Taste buds are made up of a gruop of sensory cells with tiny taste hairs projecting from them.
What is the effect of the saliva on starch?
It partially brakes down the starch in food to form simple sugars through the enzyme present in it.
WHICH IS THE FIRST ENZYME TO MIX WITH FOOD IN THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM?
Amylase is the first enzyme to mix with food in the digestive system. It is present in the saliva and help in the digestion of starch.
What role does the tongue play when food is being chewed?
the tongue provides saliva so that the food can go down and your teeth break it down.As far as i know it doesnt,althought your saliva might break it down your teeth do that, you stomach and intestines break down the food and turn it into a liquid and then it..you know.. Hope i helped
Identify the role of saliva in tasting?
Saliva is produced by salivary glands in the mouth. It has many functions, one of which is to moisten food and make the food molecules soluble. This helps us to taste because in order to taste food, the molecules must be in solution.I am a first year medical student and although I have not heard that saliva is necessary to taste food, below I describe why it may and may not be true.On the tongue there are many small bumbs called papillae. there are four types of papillae, 3 of which are associated with taste buds. The papillae are surrounded by depressions, like a moat or trench, at the bottom of these moats and on the walls there are glands (called Ebner's glands) and taste buds, respectively. The saliva acts as a solvent for the tastants (chemicals that activate our taste buds), and being that our tast buds are on the walls of the papillae it makes sene that they need a solvent to be carried to the taste buds. View this figure of the papillae with taste buds.I am unaware of the saliva processing the food in a way that is necessary for taste bud stimulation. Unless the enzymes present in saliva (amylase being the most predominant) or an unknown carrier protein similar to the ones used for smelling is necessary, I don't see why any solvent (liquid) couldn't be sufficient to allow for tastant-tast bud interaction. If a solvent is necessary rather than some saliva-tastant interaction, than liquids should be easily tastable, but solids without a liquid would be more difficult to taste.I hope my explination helped. Just to note I have 5 books that specifically discuss tast and saliva and, in terms of taste, they only mention it being used as a solvent for tastants.To taste food some of it must be dissolved in water. The saliva dissolves some of the food so you are able to taste it.The extracts of it...it just does
What three things cause saliva secretions in humans?
when you see food,taste food,and smell food
Can you taste food without saliva?
Yes. All food that is eaten has to be mixed with saliva inside your mouth to be able to taste it. Have you ever wondered why food is more tasteless with a dry mouth? Well now you know. Your taste buds can't work properly if they have no water (saliva mostly consists of water). Your body relies on water, and is about one or two thirds water. That is why flavored drinks such as soda (or pop) and Gatorade can be tasted with a dry mouth, and food can't (as well).
Enzyme present in saliva?
Amylase is the enzyme present in saliva, which breaks down sugars.
What Causes of not be able to taste food?
if you have no saliva in your mouth you can not taste anything
What is the role of saliva in tasting?
Saliva is a liquid which comes into your mouth from the salivary glands in each cheek. Its main purpose is not to taste something, but it does alter the taste of foods, particularly starches which are turned into sugars. When we chew our food the saliva is mixed in with it, and this makes the food mixture soft enough to be swallowed. Saliva acts as a lubricant.
What needs to happen to food before you are able to taste it?
It has to be dissolved in water. Sliva begin this process. The saliva and food wash over the taste buds. Taste buds are made up of a gruop of sensory cells with tiny taste hairs projecting from them.
What happens when you consistently swallow saliva?
Swallowing your saliva is a natural thing. It helps you taste food and digest food. And your saliva most definitely will NOT cause problems in your stomach, if it does, we are all in a bad way since your saliva is the only way you can swallow food. Your stomach acid is one of the most powerful acids known to man, so I highly doubt your saliva can hurt it. I think you're okay to swallow your own saliva.
What happen to food in the mouth?
Your teeth break it down and your saliva moistens the food so it can travel down your esophogus. You saliva also starts the digesting process. Interesting fact: You couldn't taste food without saliva!
When saliva shoots up from the floor of your mouth does the tongue secrete the saliva?
Saliva comes from three separate glands. They wet the food to make it easier to taste, chew, and swallow. One of the glands is under the tongue.
Why do you need to mix food with saliva?
Mixing food with saliva helps to break down carbohydrates in the food into simpler sugars, which can then be detected by taste buds. Saliva also contains enzymes that aid in digestion, making it easier for the body to absorb nutrients from the food we eat.
Why do you spit out a bad-tasting food?
The saliva sucks out the bad taste because the taste in the saliva are being released.
