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The Physiology of Taste

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The perception of a salty flavor is facilitated by sodium ions within the oral salivary fluid. Upon consumption of a salty substance, salt crystals disassemble, leading to the liberation of its constituents—Na+ and Cl- ions. These ions subsequently dissolve into the salivary fluid present in the oral cavity. The external environment of the gustatory cells experiences an elevation in Na+ concentration, thereby establishing a potent concentration gradient. This gradient propels the...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 8, 2026

Taste Exam: A Brief and Validated Test

Taste Exam: A Brief and Validated Test

Published on: August 17, 2018

Bitter taste receptors.

Maik Behrens¹, Silvia Schaefer^1,2

¹Leibniz Institute for Food Systems Biology at the Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany.

Chemical Senses

|December 15, 2025

Summary

Bitter taste receptors detect diverse bitter compounds in humans and vertebrates. This review covers their anatomy, signal transduction, chemical diversity, and functions beyond taste.

Keywords:

bitter taste receptors extraoral gustatory system review taste perception

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Area of Science:

Physiology
Molecular Biology
Sensory Science

Background:

Bitter substances, both natural and synthetic, are ubiquitous and diverse.
Detection of these compounds is primarily mediated by bitter taste receptors (T2Rs).
T2Rs are found not only in the oral cavity but also in various non-gustatory tissues.

Purpose of the Study:

To provide a comprehensive review of current knowledge on bitter taste receptors.
To explore the chemical diversity of bitter compounds and their interaction with T2Rs.
To discuss the structure, function, and agonist profiles of human and vertebrate T2Rs, including non-gustatory roles.

Main Methods:

Literature review of existing research on bitter taste receptors.
Analysis of data on T2R structure, sensitivity, and agonist profiles.
Comparative study of T2Rs across different species.

Main Results:

Detailed overview of human bitter taste receptor (hT2R) characteristics.
Exploration of the wide chemical spectrum of bitter agonists.
Description of T2R expression and function in non-gustatory tissues.

Conclusions:

Bitter taste receptors are crucial for detecting a vast array of chemical stimuli.
Understanding T2R diversity and function is key to various physiological processes.
Non-gustatory roles of T2Rs highlight their broader biological significance.