The Tongue
Definition
- An organ made of voluntary muscular structure
- It is an organ of speech, and taste. It helps in chewing the food and in swallowing.
- occupies the floor of the mouth
- base attached to hyoid bone
- a fold of mucous membrane under the tongue called the frenulum: it attaches the tongue to the floor of the mouth
- superior surface stratified squamous epithelium
- there are little projections on the tongue with nerve endings; called papillae or taste buds
Types of papillae
1. Vallate papillae :
about 8-12
arranged in an inverted V shape towards the base of the tongue.
largest papillae and are easily seen
2. Fungiform papillae
at the tip and the edges of the tongue
3. Filiform papillae
smallest
on the surface of the anterior two-thirds
of the tongue
Blood supply
Lingual branch of the external carotid artery.
Venous drainage by lingual vein
internal jugular vein.
Nerve supply
Hypoglossal nerve (12th)
Lingual branch of the mandibular nerve
Facial nerve
Glossopharyngeal nerve
