The tongue (from Latin lingua) is a mobile organ located in the mouth and having as main functions speech and food.

Structure. The tongue is made up of 17 muscles, intrinsic and extrinsic, extremely vascularized, which are covered by a mucous membrane. The tongue has sensory, sensory and motor innervation.

 About 10cm long, the tongue is divided into two parts:

– The body, mobile and visible part, which is composed of 2 sub-elements: the pharyngeal segment, located at the back of the mouth and the buccal segment, often considered as the tongue. The latter is covered with papillae and is attached to the floor of the mouth by the frenulum (²).

– The root, attached to the hyoid bone, to the mandible and to the veil of the puck, which constitutes the fixed part hidden under the body.

Taste role. The tongue plays a major role in taste thanks to the lingual taste buds. Some of these taste buds have taste receptors to distinguish the different flavors: sweet, salty, bitter, sour and umami.

Role in chewing. The tongue makes it easier to chew food, which makes up the bolus, by bringing it together and pushing it towards the teeth (2).

Role in swallowing. The tongue has an important role in swallowing by pushing the bolus of food to the back of the throat, into the pharynx (2).

Role in speech. In agreement with the larynx and the vocal cords, the tongue plays a role in phonation and allows the emission of different sounds (2).

Canker sores. The inside of the mouth, and in particular the tongue, can be the site of the appearance of canker sores, which are small ulcers. Their causes can be multiple such as stress, injury, food sensitivity, etc. In some cases, these canker sores can develop into aphthous stomatitis when they appear recurrently (3).

Glossites. Glossitis are inflammatory lesions that make the tongue painful and make it appear red. They can be due to an infection of the digestive system.

Fungal infection. Oral yeast infections are infections caused by a fungus. Found naturally in the mouth, this fungus can proliferate in response to various factors and cause infection.

Glossoplegia. These are paralyzes that usually affect only one side of the tongue causing difficulty in pronunciation.

Tumor. Both benign (non-cancerous) and malignant (cancerous) tumors can develop on different parts of the tongue.

Prevention. Good oral hygiene can help prevent certain tongue diseases.

Medical treatment. Depending on the disease, treatment with antifungals, antibiotics or antiviral ink may be prescribed.

Surgical treatment. With cancer of the tongue, surgery may be done to remove the tumor.

Chemotherapy, radiotherapy. These therapies can be prescribed for cancer.

Physical examination. An inspection of the base of the tongue is carried out using a small mirror in order to check its condition, and in particular the color of its mucous membrane. A palpation of the tongue may also be performed.

Medical imaging exam. An x-ray, CT scan, or MRI may be done to complete the diagnosis.

Still mentioned today, the language map, listing each taste in a specific area of ​​the tongue, is only a myth. Indeed, research, in particular that of Virginia Collins, has proven that the taste buds present in the taste buds can perceive the different flavors. (5)