Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsAnatomyFunctionsDisordersHygiene Tips

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Anatomy

Functions

Disorders

Hygiene Tips

The tongue’s anatomy includes interlacingmuscles,nerves, and a blood supply. The tongue is a muscular organ that lies within the mouth and partly extends into the upper throat.

The functions of the tongue include eating, tasting,swallowing, speech, and even breathing. Changes in the appearance of your tongue could indicate an underlying issue.

Tongue Anatomy

The tongue is a mass of muscle that can be divided into different parts based on its landmarks. This differentiation helps connect its structure to specific functions. The tongue is located on the floor of the mouth and upper throat. A healthy tongue is pink, though the particular shade of pink will vary from person to person.

Key components include:

The tongue has six main parts:

Tongue Structure

Taste Buds

The bumps on the tongue are calledpapillae(from a Latin root meaning “nipple”). They vary in shape, size, location, and function and are associated with taste buds.

The back of the tongue has no papillae, but underlying lymphatic tissue may give it an irregular, cobblestone appearance. Types of papillae on the tongue include:

Certain medications, as well as cancer treatments, can cause a temporary inability to taste things. Other possible causes include problems with the salivary glands, dry mouth, and infection with COVID-19.

Tongue Scraping: An Effective Practice?

Tongue Disorders

There are a handful of conditions affecting the tongue, often impacting the ability to swallow or speak normally. Some are present from birth, and others may develop from an infection or exposure to cancer-causing substances. Symptoms of disorders affecting the tongue can include:

Pictures of White Spots on Tongue

Other conditions that affect the tongue include:

Tongue-Tie Surgery: Everything You Need to Know

How to Keep Your Tongue Healthy

For most people, basic hygiene steps and a few lifestyle changes can help keep your tongue healthy:

Consider the HPV vaccine, if eligible. HPV infection is linked to tongue and oral cancer risk.In addition, for some people diagnosed with dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) or another tongue-related condition, exercises to strengthen your tongue may help.

HPV VaccinationThe Gardasil HPV vaccine can help to protect tongue health and prevent oral cancers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends HPV vaccination for the following:Children ages 11 to 12. HPV shots can, however, be given to children as young as 9 years.Those who didn’t get vaccinated early can be vaccinated up until age 26Adults who may be viable candidates for vaccination up until age 45

HPV Vaccination

The Gardasil HPV vaccine can help to protect tongue health and prevent oral cancers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends HPV vaccination for the following:Children ages 11 to 12. HPV shots can, however, be given to children as young as 9 years.Those who didn’t get vaccinated early can be vaccinated up until age 26Adults who may be viable candidates for vaccination up until age 45

The Gardasil HPV vaccine can help to protect tongue health and prevent oral cancers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends HPV vaccination for the following:

Myofunctional Therapy Exercises May Help to Improve Sleep Apnea

Summary

A healthy tongue and its combination of muscles, nerves, and blood vessels make it possible for you to speak, eat and swallow, breathe properly, or absorb medications like sublingual nitroglycerin. Medical conditions involving the tongue range from relatively common and highly treatable like thrush, to potentially life-threatening cancers.

Steps you can take to improve your tongue health include routine brushing and dental visits. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have specific concerns.

21 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

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Stone M,et al.Structure and variability in human tongue muscle anatomy.Comput Methods Biomech Biomed Eng Imaging Vis.2018;6(5):499–507. doi:10.1080/21681163.2016.1162752

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