Tongue

A muscular, flexible organ in the floor of the mouth that is composed of a mass of muscles covered by a mucous membrane. The muscles are attached to the mandible (lower jaw) and hyoid bone above the larynx. Tiny nodules called papillae stick out from the tongue’s upper surface, giving it a rough texture. Between the papillae at the sides and base of the tongue are the taste buds. Taste signals are picked up by nerve fibres from 1 of 4 cranial nerves, and impulses then travel to the brain. The tongue plays an essential part in mastication, swallowing, and speech.