Tongues taste by detecting food particles with taste buds, which send nerve signals to the brain to interpret flavor.
Taste Perception on the Tongue
The tongue isn't uniformly sensitive to all tastes; different areas have varying sensitivities:
- Sweet: Primarily perceived on the front surface of the tongue.
- Salty: Mainly detected around the front edge.
- Sour: Best perceived along either side toward the back.
- Bitter: Most sensitive at the back of the tongue.
| Taste | Location on Tongue |
|---|---|
| Sweet | Front surface |
| Salty | Front edge |
| Sour | Sides toward the back |
| Bitter | Back |
In summary, the tongue tastes through specialized receptors in taste buds, sending signals to the brain, with certain areas being more sensitive to specific tastes like bitter, sour, sweet, and salty.
