Introduction to the Tongue:

• The tongue is a muscular organ in the mouth.
• It plays a crucial role in tasting, speaking, chewing, and swallowing food.

Parts of the Tongue:

• The tongue has several parts: the tip, body, and base.
• It is covered with tiny bumps called papillae, which contain taste buds.

Functions of the Tongue:

• Taste: The tongue can sense different tastes like sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and umami (savory).

• Speech: The tongue helps in the articulation of sounds to form words.
• Chewing and Swallowing: It helps move food around the mouth and push it down the throat when swallowing.

Taste Buds:

• Taste buds are sensory organs that detect different flavors.
• They are found mainly on the papillae, but also on the roof of the mouth and throat.

Types of Tastes:

• There are five basic tastes: sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and umami.
• Each type of taste is detected by specific taste buds located in different areas of the tongue.

Health and Care of the Tongue:

• Keeping the tongue clean is important for oral health.
• Regular brushing of the tongue helps prevent bad breath and removes bacteria.

Interesting Fact:

• The human tongue is capable of identifying over 100,000 different flavors.

Let’s practice!