The tongue is an important organ, which is not only purely by its functions “on everyone’s lips”. The tongue has also acquired an important significance in modern life in connection with eroticism (tongue kiss) and body jewelry as the so-called tongue jewelry. Seriously – the tongue is relatively small but indispensable in terms of health, culinary and linguistic aspects.
What is the tongue?
Most people are unlikely to guess that the tongue is a muscle, which is covered with a special tissue layer of mucous cells. When a tongue is viewed visually, its long, rather narrow shape is striking. In anatomy and physiology, the tongue is considered an organ belonging to the digestive system. Next to the teeth, the tongue is the first organ that opens the digestive tract. The tongue is attached in the oral cavity on one side by a muscular connection. In the anterior region, the tongue is loose.
Anatomy and structure
From an anatomical point of view, the tongue consists of several areas, which are particularly significant for palpation as well as food movement and taste perception. In the tongue, one can see the root of the tongue, the actual corpus, and the sensitive tip. Further intensive examination of the tongue reveals the dorsum and the underside of the tongue. The edge of the tongue is also important for the tasks of the tongue. On the tongue, in addition to the mucous membrane, there are so-called papillae or taste buds, which together with the taste buds form a unit. The taste buds ensure different taste perception on the tongue. This division of the tongue is technically exactly also called innervation. So that the cells of the muscle and mucous membrane tissue of the tongue can be supplied with nutrients and oxygen appropriately, it is traversed by many blood vessels, arteries and veins. The removal of metabolic waste products from the tongue tissue is based on the lingual vein. The tongue is also referred to medically as the lingua or glossa.
Functions and tasks
In relation to the many tasks that the tongue has to perform, this oral organ is not too large. The functions of the tongue include, in addition to a certain mobility in relation to the crushed food likewise the crushing of soft food components the testing of consistency and taste sensory. In addition, the powerful muscle tongue mixes the food with saliva and absorbed liquid. During this process, the food already absorbs the first digestive enzymes. After the perception of tastes such as bitter, sweet, sour and salty, the nerves in the tongue pass this information on to the brain. The tongue also has a large part in processes such as sucking liquids and swallowing mushy food. Moreover, without a functional tongue, articulation of sounds would not be possible. In addition, the tongue has an important task to fulfill in relation to the mimic expressiveness of humans. For speech, the tongue is indispensable for forming the so-called lingual sounds. In medicine, the nature of the tongue is also a relevant indication of the presence of specific diseases.
Diseases
Like any body organ, the tongue can also become diseased under certain influences and exhibit various abnormalities. In diseases of the tongue, both its shape and color change, as well as its superficial relief. Typical abnormalities of the tongue occur, for example, in cyanosis. This is caused by an undersupply of oxygen to the organism and is manifested by a bluish coloration of the tongue. If an intense red coloration of the tongue occurs in connection with infectious diseases such as scarlet fever, this is called raspberry tongue. A blood disorder based on a deficiency of red blood pigment or a reduction of red blood cells results in a classic varnish tongue. This occurs in both pernicious anemia and cirrhosis of the liver. In addition, the tongue may also be affected by tumors. A tongue abscess, thrush disease of the tongue caused by the fungus Candida albicans or genetic defects in the shape of the tongue are also among the common clinical pictures of the tongue. Disorders of the digestive tract are usually manifested in typical pathological impairments of the tongue.
Typical and common diseases
- Tongue burning
- Glossitis
- Tongue cancer
- Taste disorders
