Why can't you taste without a sense of smell?

Answer 1

The senses of smell and taste are closely interrelated, and one definitely does affect the other to some extent.

Although they are extremely closely related you will not loose your sense of taste if you lose your sense of smell it will just be extremely mild. You dont reallz lose your sense of taste physiologically instead psychologically you would find food less tast, not because your sense of taste is affected but because 80% of what we consider to be tasty food comes from how they smell.

(1) On April 29, 2008 at 3:07 am User:Patty_Robb[0] said:

I have lost my sense of smell since about ten years ago. It has gotten progressively worse. At first I would have phantom smells or if someone suggested a smell I would smell it for hours. I now do not even have a memory of smells and have lost my sense of taste as well.

Answer 2

Yes and No depending on your type of condition. In general, if you fully lose your sense of smell, your taste is severely effected by it and sometimes you end up not smelling or tasting anything.

You also can temporarily lose your taste and smell if you have a bad sinus infection, cold, or other sinus blocking virus or bacteria that inflame the sinus cavities to a degree of disrupting the taste and smell sensory nerves. This can last days up to weeks depending on recovery.

Sometimes you can taste a little, sometimes not at all depending on your acute levels. The 2 senses work hand in hand. Aroma compliments taste and taste compliments aroma. There are other disorders that can cause a person to taste but not smell. It varies from person to person. But if its caused by trauma, you're more likely to lose smell and taste together when one or the other is lost.

There are several types of conditions that can cause loss of smell or taste, for a list of the conditions, see the related link.

Answer 3

You don't have the sense of taste because it is your smell that practically controls that part. Likewise...if you lost your sense of hearing then your sense of seeing would heighten. If you lost your sense of smell then your sense of taste would also go. I'm not that quite certain which sense(s) get heighten, but it is either touch, seeing, or hearing. Hope it helps!

Answer 4

yes. taste and smell are innvervated by different cranial nerves. CNI innervates smell (olfactory nerve), while CN VII(facial) IX(glossopharyngeal) and X (vagus) innervate taste. if you have lesions or 'palsys' of these latter 3 nerves you can lose your sense of taste. :)

Answer 5

because your mouth is connected to your nose and if your nose is stuffed up your taste buds will not work.

Answer 6

Yes