Human tongue is a muscular organ located in the mouth, essential for various functions such as tasting, swallowing, and speaking. It is covered with mucous membrane and has a rich supply of nerves and blood vessels, making it highly sensitive.
Important Parts of the Human Tongue
- Tip (Apex): The frontmost part of the tongue, highly mobile and sensitive, involved in tasting and manipulating food.
- Body: The main mass of the tongue, situated between the tip and the root, crucial for the movement and function of the tongue.
- Root: The back part of the tongue that anchors it to the mouth, connected to the hyoid bone and the floor of the mouth.
- Dorsum: The upper surface of the tongue, covered with taste buds and small projections called papillae.
- Filiform Papillae: Thin, thread-like papillae that do not contain taste buds but help in the mechanical aspect of tasting.
- Fungiform Papillae: Mushroom-shaped papillae mainly located at the tip and sides of the tongue, containing taste buds.
- Circumvallate Papillae: Large, dome-shaped papillae located at the back of the tongue, containing numerous taste buds.
- Foliate Papillae: Folds of tissue on the sides of the tongue, containing taste buds.
- Underside: The ventral surface of the tongue, which is smooth and contains the lingual frenulum, a fold of mucous membrane that helps anchor the tongue to the floor of the mouth.
- Lingual Frenulum: A fold of mucous membrane located underneath the tongue, which aids in its mobility and helps maintain its position.
- Lingual Tonsils: Lymphatic tissue located at the base of the tongue, playing a role in the immune system by defending against pathogens entering the mouth.
These parts work together to facilitate the tongue’s role in taste, speech, and the initial stages of digestion.