Tongue

The tongue is an organ with the principle functions of aiding speech and digestion of food. The tongue comprises a mass of striated (striped) muscle covered by a mucous membrane. The under surface of the tongue is connected to the floor of the mouth by the lingual frenulum. A septum of alveolar tissue provides a partial separation of the tongue into symmetrical halves. The groove in the midline on its dorsum is called the median sulcus. Three major extrinsic muscles control movements of the tongue: genioglossus, styloglossus and hyoglossus. The tongue has two parts, the anterior two-thirds which lies within the oral cavity proper and the posterior one-third, which lies within the pharynx. A V-shaped groove, the sulcus terminalis, separates the anterior portion in the mouth from the posterior pharyngeal portion. The upper surface of the tongue has numerous small elevations called the papillae, this roughened surface aids in handling food. These papillae also contain the taste buds. On the under surface of the tongue, the thin mucosa is reflected onto the adjacent gums and the floor of the mouth where it forms an elevated vertical fold in the midline, which is called the frenulum