Yes, a person can taste without a tongue, although it might be significantly impaired.
While the tongue is the primary organ for taste, other parts of the body can also detect taste, albeit to a lesser extent. According to provided information:
- Nasal Cavities: Humans can also detect taste through their nasal cavities. This is part of the reason why our sense of taste is often diminished when we have a cold or nasal congestion.
- Esophagus: The top portion of the human esophagus can detect taste.
- Other Areas (Infants/Toddlers): During infancy and toddler stages, tastes are perceived through the hard palate, the middle of the tongue, and mucous membranes in the cheeks and lips.
This indicates that even without a tongue, some level of taste perception is still possible through these alternative sensory pathways. However, the tongue is the primary organ of taste, and its absence would significantly impact the ability to taste flavors comprehensively.
