Question

Which taste sense causes sodium ion channels to open and generation an action potential?

Sweet

Sour

Salty

Bitter

Which taste buds are activated by foods that are high in hydrogen ions and activate proton channels?

Sour

Salty

Bitter

Answer 1

1. Salty.

When you eat something salty , the salt dissociates into sodium and chloride ions in salavia of the mouth, the sodium concentration being high outside of the gustatory cells, creates a strong concentration gradient, the sodium channels open up, that cause diffusion of sodium ions into the cells, which in turn causes depolarization of the cell membrane and generation of action potential that results in salty taste.

2. Sour taste.

Sour taste is the perception of acids (hydrogen ions) in our food., so when you eat something sour, it increases hydrogen ion in our salavia, because of which pH deceases, which creates strong concentration gradient potential in our gustatory cells, whch causes diffusion of ions into the cells, causing depolarization of the cell membrane and results in generation of action potential that causes sensation of sour taste.