![]() ![]() These neurons interact with the odour compounds in the nasal cavity. ![]() The olfactory bulb is a bundle of olfactory neurons. The olfactory system is the sensory system used for olfaction, or the sense of smell. Taste compounds interact with the tops of these specialized cells, which then transmit taste information through nerves to the brain. Taste buds can detect sweet, sour, salty, bitter and savoury. Each taste bud contains several taste receptor cells. The smallest functional unit of taste are the taste buds which can be found on the tongue, as well as the back of the throat and the roof of the mouth. Smell is a more distant sense allowing us to detect small concentrations of airborne substances. Taste is an immediate sense – a final checkpoint for the acceptability of food before it enters the body. They provide information about the composition of our surroundings. How do we experience taste and what role does smell play? In fact your tastebuds are actually trainable – which can be great news for your health. If you have a weakness for unhealthy foods, a distaste to vegetables (think Broccoli!), but a desire to eat better, it’s worth knowing that your palate isn’t fixed. By Dr Michael Barakate and Dietitian Belinda Elwin ![]()
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