The tongue is a muscular organ in the mouth.

The tongue is covered with moist, pink tissue

called mucosa. Tiny bumps called papillae give the tongue its rough texture. Thousands of taste
buds cover the surfaces of the papillae. Taste buds are collections of nerve-like cells that connect
to nerves running into the brain.
The tongue  has importance in the digestive system and is the primary organ of taste in
the gustatory system. The tongue's upper surface (dorsum) is covered by taste buds housed in
numerous lingual papillae. It is sensitive and kept moist by saliva and is richly supplied
with nerves and blood vessels. The tongue also serves as a natural means of cleaning the teeth. A
major function of the tongue is the enabling of speech in humans and vocalization in other
animals.
The human tongue is divided into two parts, an oral part at the front and a pharyngeal part at the
back. The left and right sides are also separated along most of its length by a vertical section
of fibrous tissue (the lingual septum) that results in a groove, the median sulcus, on the tongue's
surface.
The anterior tongue is, at its apex, thin and narrow. It is directed forward against the lingual
surfaces of the lower incisor teeth. The posterior part is, at its root, directed backward, and
connected with the hyoid bone  with the epiglottis.
Much of your brain is devoted to your tongue. It is a huge muscle, constantly moving, that has
to keep out of the way of your teeth, help you swallow and avoid choking you. It's covered with
densely packed touch receptors that constantly update the mental map of the shape of your
mouth.
The four common tastes are sweet, sour, bitter, and salty. The tongue has many nerves that help
detect and transmit taste signals to the brain. Because of this, all parts of the tongue can detect
these four common tastes; the commonly described “taste map” of the tongue doesn’t really
exist.
When we chew, the tongue and the cheeks work together to constantly move the food between
the teeth so that it can be chewed. The tongue presses the crushed food against the palate and
moves this bolus, which is then ready to be swallowed, to the throat.
Open your mouth and look at your tongue. That may sound strange, but your tongue can tell a
lot about your health. For example, a black and hairy looking tongue can signal poor oral
hygiene, or diabetes. If your tongue is bright red like a strawberry, it could signal a deficiency in
folic acid, vitamin B12, or iron.

I. Answer the questions.

1. Name the parts of the tongue.
2. How does the tongue work?
3. Is our tongue always moving?
4. What does an unhealthy tongue look like?
5. Should we brush our tongue?