Taste and SmellTaste and Smell

SMELLSMELL

Smell: to perceive the odor or scent of something

through the nose by means of the olfactory nerves.

The sense of The sense of smellsmell

Smell can determine which foods you Smell can determine which foods you eat.eat.

Memories or feelings can be Memories or feelings can be responses to something you smell.responses to something you smell.

The sense of smellThe sense of smellYou smell food because it gives off You smell food because it gives off molecules into the air.molecules into the air.

These molecules stimulate sensitive These molecules stimulate sensitive nerve cells, called nerve cells, called olfactoryolfactory (ohl FAK (ohl FAK tree)tree) cellscells in your nasal passage. in your nasal passage.

How Do We Smell?How Do We Smell?

Olfactory cells are kept moist by mucus.Olfactory cells are kept moist by mucus.

When molecules in the air dissolve in this When molecules in the air dissolve in this moisture, the cells become stimulated.moisture, the cells become stimulated.

How Do We Smell?How Do We Smell?If enough molecules are present, a If enough molecules are present, a message starts in these cells, then message starts in these cells, then travels to the brain where it is read.travels to the brain where it is read.

If you have smelled this odor before, you If you have smelled this odor before, you will recognize it. If you don’t recognize it, will recognize it. If you don’t recognize it, it will be remembered and identified the it will be remembered and identified the next time you smell it.next time you smell it.

TasteTaste

TASTETASTE

Taste:Taste:to understand or distinguish the 

flavor of something.

Tasting…Tasting…

Taste buds on your tongue are the major Taste buds on your tongue are the major sensory receptors for taste.sensory receptors for taste.About 10,000 taste buds are found all over About 10,000 taste buds are found all over your tongue, enabling you to tell one taste your tongue, enabling you to tell one taste from another.from another.When you think of hot pizza, your mouth When you think of hot pizza, your mouth may begin to water. This is helpful, may begin to water. This is helpful, because to taste something, it has to be because to taste something, it has to be dissolved in water.dissolved in water.

How Do We Taste?How Do We Taste?

Saliva begins the taste process.Saliva begins the taste process.

A solution of saliva and food washes over A solution of saliva and food washes over the taste buds, and messages are sent to the taste buds, and messages are sent to the brain.the brain.

The brain reads these messages, and you The brain reads these messages, and you identify the flavors.identify the flavors.

How Do We Taste?How Do We Taste?

Most taste buds respond to several taste Most taste buds respond to several taste sensations.sensations.

However, some areas of the tongue are However, some areas of the tongue are more sensitive to one flavor than another.more sensitive to one flavor than another.

The four main taste sensations are: The four main taste sensations are: 1.sweet1.sweet, , 2. salty2. salty, , 3.sour3.sour, ,

4.bitter4.bitter..

Smell and Taste…Smell and Taste…Smell and taste are related.Smell and taste are related.

The sense of smell is needed to identify The sense of smell is needed to identify some foods such as chocolate.some foods such as chocolate.

Smell and Taste…Smell and Taste…When saliva in your mouth mixes with the When saliva in your mouth mixes with the chocolate, odors travel up the nasal chocolate, odors travel up the nasal passage in the back of your throat.passage in the back of your throat.

The olfactory cells are then stimulated, The olfactory cells are then stimulated, and the taste and smell of chocolate are and the taste and smell of chocolate are sensed.sensed.

Smell and Taste…Smell and Taste…

When you have a stuffy nose and some When you have a stuffy nose and some foods seem tasteless, it may be because foods seem tasteless, it may be because the food’s molecules are blocked from the food’s molecules are blocked from sending messages to the olfactory cells in sending messages to the olfactory cells in your nasal passages.your nasal passages.

THE END!!!THE END!!!