Question

people who lose their sense of taste may also lose interest in eating. which of the following is involved in the perception of tastes?

taste cells for sweet are only located at the anterior tip of the tongue.

transduction of sour and sweet tastes involves activation of a g protein called gustducin.

afferent impulses related to taste are carried to from the tongue to the cns by the trigeminal nerve (cranial nerve v).

much of what is perceived as a taste defect may actually be a defect in olfaction, which causes foods and beverages to taste differently.

Explanation:

1. Analyze Option 1: Taste cells for sweet are not only at the anterior tip; they're distributed, so this is incorrect.
2. Analyze Option 2: Gustducin is involved in bitter and sweet (not sour) taste transduction, so this is incorrect.
3. Analyze Option 3: Taste afferents are carried by facial (VII), glossopharyngeal (IX), and vagus (X) nerves, not trigeminal (V), so this is incorrect.
4. Analyze Option 4: Olfaction (smell) and gustation (taste) are closely linked; many "taste" issues come from smell problems, so this is correct.

Answer:

D. Much of what is perceived as a taste defect may actually be a defect in olfaction, which causes foods and beverages to taste differently.