Jain Metaphysics and Science: 3.5.2 Taste

Taste is the ability to respond to dissolved molecules and ions called Testants. Humans detect taste with taste receptor cells. These are clustered in taste buds. Each taste bud has a pore that opens out to the surface of the tongue enabling molecules and ions taken into mouth to reach the receptor cells inside. A single taste bud contains 50-100 taste cells representing all 5 taste sensations. Each taste receptor cell is connected, through an ATP – releasing synapse, to a sensory neuron leading back to the brain. There are five primary taste sensations (1) salty (2) sour, (3) sweet (4) bitter and (5) umani.