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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
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∙ 6y ago
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoBecause taste buds are stimulated by dissolved food. Saliva acts as a solvent to dissolve the food.
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoit has little minerals in it or cells that can help break down food
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoSaliva acts as a solvent for tastants
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∙ 10y agoLysozyme
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∙ 13y agoEnzyms!
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What is the role is the role of the major enzyme associated with saliva?
It is called amylase and it breaks stach down into glucose for the body to use for energy.
Where would you find your saliva?
You will find saliva in your mouth as you have saliva glads there.
Why saliva secretes more?
saliva
What is the pH of a sour tasting substance?
Sour-tasting substances will be acidic, or have a pH of <7
Is saliva a mixture?
Yes, saliva is a mixture.
What is the role in saliva in tasting?
test taste buds
What The role of saliva in tasting?
The saliva mixes with the food or drinking and the odor travels up the nasal passage in the back of the throat.
What is the use of saliva?
Saliva breaks down starch and fat in food, it also breaks down food caught in ones teeth, protecting them from bacteria. Saliva protects and lubricates teeth, tongue, and tissues of the mouth. It also has an important role in tasting foods.
What the worst way to identify a mineral?
The worst way to identify a mineral is by tasting it. When you are classifying a mineral by tasting it doesn't do much. So taste is the worst way to identify a mineral.
How do you identify edible juniper berries?
by tasting them...
What is the role of adding calcium chloride to the saliva?
what is the role of adding calcium chloride to saliva
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 is the main job of the tongue?
The main job of tongue is to produce saliva and secondly it is used for tasting food.
How do you identify standards that influence the role of care assisstant is carried out?
identify stanards that influence the way your own role is carried out
What is a good lube for oral?
Saliva. Anything else will likely not be very pleasant tasting. Unless you buy edible flavoured products from a licensed adult shop.
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.
How can you visually identify strong tasting cheese?
I'm no expert but I think you will be better off using your nose than your eyes.
