The tongue's upper surface (dorsum) is covered by taste buds housed in numerous lingual papillae.

The left and right sides are also separated along most of its length by a vertical section of fibrous tissue (the lingual septum) that results in a groove, the median sulcus, on the tongue's surface.

This division is along the length of the tongue save for the very back of the pharyngeal part and is visible as a groove called the median sulcus.

The upper surface of the tongue is called the dorsum, and is divided by a groove into symmetrical halves by the median sulcus.

The foramen cecum marks the end of this division (at about 2.5 cm from the root of the tongue) and the beginning of the terminal sulcus.

The foramen cecum is also the point of attachment of the thyroglossal duct and is formed during the descent of the thyroid diverticulum in embryonic development.

On either side of the frenulum are small prominences called sublingual caruncles that the major salivary submandibular glands drain into.

Their main functions are altering the tongue's position allowing for protrusion, retraction, and side-to-side movement.

The styloglossus arises from the styloid process of the temporal bone and draws the sides of the tongue up to create a trough for swallowing.

The palatoglossus arises from the palatine aponeurosis, and depresses the soft palate, moves the palatoglossal fold towards the midline, and elevates the back of the tongue during swallowing.

The transverse muscle divides the tongue at the middle, and is attached to the mucous membranes that run along the sides.

The dorsal surface is a stratified squamous keratinized epithelium, which is characterized by numerous mucosal projections called papillae.

[13] In the fifth week a pair of lateral lingual swellings, one on the right side and one on the left, form on the first pharyngeal arch.

At the tip of the terminal sulcus is the foramen cecum, which is the point of attachment of the thyroglossal duct where the embryonic thyroid begins to descend.

Once a tastant is dissolved in saliva, it can make contact with the plasma membrane of the gustatory hairs, which are the sites of taste transduction.

Specifically, different vowels are articulated by changing the tongue's height and retraction to alter the resonant properties of the vocal tract.

The tongue is part of the erogenous zone of the mouth and can be used in intimate contact, as in the French kiss and in oral sex.

The tongue is tied to the floor of the mouth by a very short and thickened frenulum and this affects speech, eating, and swallowing.

[21] This coating has been identified as a major factor contributing to bad breath (halitosis),[21] which can be managed by using a tongue cleaner.

The sublingual region underneath the front of the tongue is an ideal location for the administration of certain medications into the body.

The sublingual route takes advantage of the highly vascular quality of the oral cavity, and allows for the speedy application of medication into the cardiovascular system, bypassing the gastrointestinal tract.

This is the only convenient and efficacious route of administration (apart from Intravenous therapy) of nitroglycerin to a patient suffering chest pain from angina pectoris.

For example, butterflies do not lick with their proboscides; they suck through them, and the proboscis is not a single organ, but two jaws held together to form a tube.

For example, the New Testament of the Bible, in the Book of Acts of the Apostles, Jesus' disciples on the Day of Pentecost received a type of spiritual gift: "there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues ....", which amazed the crowd of Jewish people in Jerusalem, who were from various parts of the Roman Empire but could now understand what was being preached.

Speaking in tongues is a common phrase used to describe glossolalia, which is to make smooth, language-resembling sounds that is no true spoken language itself.

Sticking one's tongue out at someone is considered a childish gesture of rudeness or defiance in many countries; the act may also have sexual connotations, depending on the way in which it is done.

One study found that one-fifth of young adults in Israel had at least one type of oral piercing, most commonly the tongue.

In Argentina and Uruguay cow tongue is cooked and served in vinegar (lengua a la vinagreta).

Tongues of seals and whales have been eaten, sometimes in large quantities, by sealers and whalers, and in various times and places have been sold for food on shore.