01 / Location & anatomical relationships
On the floor of your mouth, extending back toward your throat.
02 / Structure & organization
Intrinsic muscles alter tongue shape; extrinsic muscles change its position. Papillae cover much of the dorsal surface, but not all papillae contain taste buds. Motor supply is mainly through the hypoglossal nerve, with an exception for palatoglossus.
03 / Function
It moves food, helps you speak and carries many taste buds.
04 / Mechanism
Groups of muscles change the tongue's shape and position. It pushes food toward the teeth, gathers it for swallowing and adjusts air to form words. Taste buds respond to dissolved substances and send signals through nerves.
Part of a bigger picture
The tongue belongs in our head & face collection. Explore the nearby parts to see how this area of the body fits together.
Explore head & face →FOR DEEPER STUDY
Connect structure with function
Taste and general sensation follow different nerve pathways in different tongue regions. Avoid the old tongue map: the major taste qualities are not confined to separate zones.
Check your understanding
Locate the tongue in relation to its neighbors. Explain how the structural features described above support its function, then distinguish it from a nearby structure with a different role.
Keep learning
Continue with OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology for system-level study. This atlas is educational and has not undergone independent medical peer review.