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tongue
Introduction References & Edit History Related Topics
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Two anatomical illustrations of the human tongue: the left shows a close-up of the tongue's surface with a magnified view of papillae, while the right displays a labeled cross section of the tongue in the mouth, highlighting its position relative to the teeth, lips, roof of mouth, lower jawbone, and air passage. muscular anatomy of the tongue
Do Different Parts of the Tongue Taste Different Flavors?
Circumvallate papillae The Human Body Black-and-yellow mangrove snake (Boiga dendrophila) Detailed anatomical diagram of an open human mouth showing teeth, gums, and the roof of the mouth, with labels identifying features such as incisors, canines, premolars, molars, hard and soft palate, uvula, and various oral structures. Diagram showing how humans detect flavor through chemoreception, with labeled sections illustrating odor detection in the nasal cavity, taste detection on the tongue, and how both signals are integrated in the brain. Diagram of a human head in profile showing the location of vocal organs and possible places of articulation for speech sounds, with labels for lips, teeth, tongue, palate, uvula, pharynx, and vocal cords, and numbered regions corresponding to types of articulation such as bilabial, alveolar, and velar. A diagram illustrating the process of a snake extending and retracting its tongue to capture and deliver odor particles to the Jacobson's (vomeronasal) organ; it also shows the olfactory bulb and brain.

tongue: References & Edit History

Article Contributors

Primary Contributors

  • The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
    Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.

Other Encyclopedia Britannica Contributors

Article History

Type Description Contributor Date
Modified link of Web site: National Center for Biotechnology Information - In brief: How does the tongue work? Oct 26, 2026
Add new Web site: University of Minnesota Libraries - Introduction to Sensation and Perception - The Structure of the Tongue. Sep 05, 2026
Add new Web site: DigitalCommons at University of Nebraska - Lincoln - Tongue-surface movement patterns during speech and swallowing (PDF). Apr 24, 2026
Add new Web site: Nature - Scientific Reports - Tongue reflex for speech posture control. May 27, 2025
Add new Web site: University of Minnesota Libraries - Introduction to Sensation and Perception - The Structure of the Tongue. Apr 05, 2025
Add new Web site: Frontiers - Frontiers in Psychology - Evolution of the human tongue and emergence of speech biomechanics. Jan 30, 2025
Media added. Jun 24, 2024
Media added. Dec 01, 2023
Add new Web site: Academia - Tongue and health Problems. Nov 28, 2023
Add new Web site: Academia - Anatomy of the Tongue and Taste Buds. Oct 06, 2023
Add new Web site: MedicineNet - Tongue Problems. Jul 27, 2023
Links added. Jun 16, 2023
Add new Web site: Teach Me Anatomy - The Tongue. Jun 02, 2023
Add new Web site: University of Maryland - School of Dentistry - Structure and variability in human tongue muscle anatomy. Apr 19, 2023
Add new Web site: Verywell Health - Tongue: Anatomy, Function, and Disorders. Mar 10, 2023
Add new Web site: Cleveland Clinic - Tongue. Dec 30, 2022
Add new Web site: National Center for Biotechnology Information - In brief: How does the tongue work? Sep 27, 2022
Add new Web site: Live Science - The Tongue: Facts, Function & Diseases. May 09, 2022
Add new Web site: Healthline - Tongue Problems. May 09, 2022
Added an image showing interwoven muscle fibers in the tongue. Jul 20, 2017
Add new Web site: Women's and Children's Health Network - Kids' Health - Your Terrific Tongue. Jan 16, 2017
Add new Web site: Science Kids - Fun Science and Technology for Kids! - Fun Tongue Facts for Kids. Jan 16, 2017
Add new Web site: KidsHealth - For Kids - Your Tongue. Jan 16, 2017
Add new Web site: Better Health Channel - Tongue. May 18, 2014
Add new Web site: Medscape - Tongue Anatomy. May 18, 2014
Add new Web site: The Nemours Foundation - for Kids - Your Tongue. May 18, 2014
Add new Web site: WebMd - Tongue Problems. May 18, 2014
Added new Web site: Humannervoussystem.info - Human Tongue Anatomy. Apr 06, 2009
Added new Web site: HPS Online - Tongue self diagnosis. Apr 06, 2009
Added new Web site: InnerBody - Tongue. Apr 06, 2009
Updated to include information on the diverse distribution of taste receptors over the surface of the tongue and on the specific taste known as umami. Jan 28, 2009
New illustration added. Jan 21, 2009
Added new Web site: How Stuff Works - Healthguide - Tongue Biopsy. Sep 24, 2008
Article added to new online database. Jul 20, 1998
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