🔬general biology i review
Tastants
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Tastants are chemical compounds that activate taste receptor cells on the tongue. They are responsible for the perception of taste.
5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test
- Tastants bind to specific receptors on taste buds which then send signals to the brain.
- Common tastants include sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and umami substances.
- Tastants must be dissolved in saliva to interact with taste receptors effectively.
- Different types of taste receptor cells are specialized for different tastants.
- The perception of taste can be influenced by other sensory inputs such as smell.