tongue notes for digestive system b.sc N

Anatomy and physiology
Digestive system

1. TONGUE
Tongue is the voluntary muscular structure present at the floor of the oral
cavity. The The tongue is made up of three elements:
Epithelium
Muscles
Glands
The human tongue is about 3.3 inches in men and 3.1 inches in women. It is
located in the oral cavity. The tongue is divided into three parts:
Tip
Body
Base
.
The base of the tongue inferiority attached to the floor of mouth and hyoid
bone.
On the inferior surface of the tongue at mid line there is fold of mucus
membrane called frenulum. It is lined with stratified squamous epithelium.
There are nerve endings for sense of taste on the surface of tongue which is
called taste buds. The taste buds are present in papillae which are small
projections on distributed on the (surface) epithelium of tongue, pharynx and
soft palate.
There are 4 type of papillae which help in detecting taste, which dissolves in
saliva for proper sensation. Which are:
1. The fungiform papillae; present on the tip and edge of tongue.
2. Filiform papillae; are present on anterior two third of tongue.
3. Vallate papillae; are largest papillae and present at posterior.
4. Foliate; rigid and grooves toward posterior part and lateral border of tongue.

2. Tongue Functions
Following are the important tongue functions:
1.Mastication
The tongue helps in chewing.
2.Deglutition
It helps in swallowing food.
3,Taste
The tongue transmits taste signals to the brain and helps in sensing taste.
4.Speech
It is an important organ that facilitates speech.
5.Secretion
It secretes mucous and serous fluid which keeps the mouth moist.