CoursesAnatomyHead and neckOral cavitySurface of the tongue

CoursesAnatomyHead and neckOral cavitySurface of the tongue

Surface of the tongue

Learning objectives

This study unit will help you to:

Describe the structures and parts of the tongue.
Name the function and innervation of its structures.
Identify the four lingual papillae and distinguish their purpose.

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The tongue consists of a body, apex and root containing the lingual papillae and tonsils. The body is bordered anteriorly by the apex and posteriorly by the root.

Body of the tongue: contains the lingual papillae (filiform, fungiform, vallate and foliate papillae), which contain taste buds, except for the filiform papillae.
Apex of the tongue: forms the anteriormost portion of the tongue.
Root of the tongue: is the most posterior portion of the tongue and anchors the tongue to the mandible and hyoid bone. It contains the lingual tonsils and is separated by a “v-shaped” terminal sulcus from the body of the tongue.

The lingual papillae are located on the presulcal part of the tongue, just anterior to the terminal sulcus. The vallate papillae run parallel to the terminal sulcus, whereas the foliate papillae are located on the posterolateral end of the body of the tongue on each side. The filiform papillae are the most numerous lingual papillae and cover most of the presulcal area of the dorsum of the tongue. Their main function is to increase the friction between the food and the tongue. The fungiform papillae are larger than the filiform papillae and rounder in shape. They are mostly found at the tip and side of the tongue and contain taste buds on their upper surface.

Taste sensation is transmitted to the brainstem via three nerves: the facial nerve (chorda tympani) innervating the anterior ⅔ of tongue and soft palate, the glossopharyngeal nerve innervating the posterior ⅓ of the tongue and the vagus nerve innervating the epiglottis.

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Summary

Key facts of the surface of the tongue
Parts	Body, apex, root
Surfaces	Dorsal (superior) and ventral (inferior)
Papillae	Filiform, fungiform, foliate, vallate
Innervation	Hypoglossal nerve (CN XII): provides motor innervation to all muscles of the tongue, except palatoglossus muscle (vagus nerve (CN X)) Lingual nerve: conveys general somatic afferent impulses from anterior two-thirds of tongue Glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX): carries general afferent impulses from vallate papillae along posterior third of tongue, as well as taste sensation from postsulcal tongue, vallate papillae, palatoglossal arche and oropharynx Facial nerve (CN VII): taste sensation of anterior two-thirds of tongue and inferior part of soft palate Vagus nerve (CN X): provides taste buds in extreme areas of pharyngeal tongue
Mucosa	Stratified squamous keratinized (dorsal surface) and non-keratinized (ventral surface) epithelium

Key facts of the lingual papillae
Filiform papillae	Stretched, conical, gray-white papillae Covered with keratinized squamous epithelium Provide friction to allow movement of the food bolus during chewing Do not possess taste buds
Fungiform papillae	Highly vascular, mushroom-shaped papillae Scattered across the entire dorsal surface of the tongue Contain few taste buds on the apical aspect
Foliate papillae	Bilaterally paired, parallel, “leaf-like” ridges of mucosa On the posterolateral margin of the tongue, near the terminal sulcus Non-keratinized mucosa Contain numerous taste buds
Vallate papillae	Usually between 8-12 cylindrical papillae Anterior and parallel to the terminal sulcus of the tongue

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