Human Anatomy: Tongue Structure

Tongue Anatomy

• Foliate lingual papillae: Vertical ridges located on the sides of the tongue, contributing to taste sensation.

• Lingual tonsils: Positioned at the base and sides of the tongue, these are irregular masses of lymphatic tissue involved in immune response.

• Body of tongue: Refers to the anterior two-thirds of the tongue, primarily responsible for taste and manipulation of food.

• Base of tongue: The posterior one-third of the tongue, playing a role in swallowing and taste perception.

• Dorsal surface: The top aspect of the tongue, where various papillae and taste buds are located.

• Ventral surface: The underside of the tongue, which has a smooth appearance and contains blood vessels and connective tissue.

• Lateral surface: The sides of the tongue where foliate papillae are found.

• Apex: The tip of the tongue, important for tactile sensations and taste recognition.

• Filiform lingual papillae: Slender, thread-like projections covering the dorsal surface, responsible for the texture of the tongue but do not contain taste buds.

• Foramen cecum: A small pit-like depression located where the sulcus terminalis points backward, serving as a remnant of the embryonic development of the tongue.

• Sulcus terminalis: A V-shaped groove that separates the base from the body of the tongue along the dorsal surface.

• Circumvallate lingual papillae: Round elevations on the dorsal surface forming a V-shape, containing 10-14 taste buds crucial for detecting taste stimuli.

• Median lingual sulcus: A midline depression along the dorsal surface of the tongue, contributing to its characteristic shape.

• Fungiform lingual papillae: Positioned on the dorsal surface as red, mushroom-shaped dots that house taste buds, facilitating taste sensation.