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The tongue is an important accessory organ in the digestive system. The tongue is used for crushing food against the hard palate, during mastication and manipulation of food for softening prior to swallowing. The epithelium on the tongue's upper, or dorsal surface is keratinised. Consequently, the tongue can grind against the hard palate ...
Geographic tongue, also known by several other terms, [note 1] is a condition of the mucous membrane of the tongue, usually on the dorsal surface. It is a common ...
While primary aspects of the voice are produced in the throat, the tongue, lips, and jaw are also needed to produce the range of sounds included in speech. The mouth consists of two regions, the vestibule and the oral cavity proper. The mouth, normally moist, is lined with a mucous membrane, and contains the teeth.
The fimbriated fold of tongue, also plica fimbriata, is a slight fold of the mucous membrane on the underside of the tongue which runs laterally on either side of the frenulum. The free edge of the fimbriated fold occasionally exhibits a series of fringe-like processes. (Fimbria is Latin for fringe).
The thin strip of tissue that runs vertically from the floor of the mouth to the undersurface of the tongue is called the lingual frenulum. It tends to limit the movement of the tongue, and in some people, it is so short that it actually interferes with speaking. A hump of tissue near the base of the tongue houses a series of saliva gland ducts.
Lingual papillae, particularly filiform papillae, are thought to increase the surface area of the tongue and to increase the area of contact and friction between the tongue and food. [2] This may increase the tongue's ability to manipulate a bolus of food, and also to position food between the teeth during mastication (chewing) and swallowing.
Tongue coating - food debris, desquamated epithelial cells and bacteria often form a visible tongue coating. [7] This coating has been identified as a major contributing factor in bad breath ( halitosis ), [ 7 ] which can be managed by brushing the tongue gently with a toothbrush or using special oral hygiene instruments such as tongue scrapers ...
While identifying the causes of tongue thrust, it is important to remember that the resting posture of the tongue, jaw, and lips are crucial to the normal development of the mouth and its structures. If the tongue rests against the upper front teeth, the teeth may protrude forward, and adverse tongue pressure can restrict the development of the ...