Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Tongue

Tongue

The human tongue is a fascinating and complex organ, responsible for various essential functions such as swallowing, speech, and taste. It is also subject to various conditions and diseases. In this article, we delve into the anatomy of the tongue, its roles, and some common conditions that can affect it.
Anatomical Position in the Oral Cavity
The tongue is located within the oral cavity, also known as the mouth. It is attached to the floor of the mouth by a fold of mucous membrane called the...

The Tongue and Taste Buds

The Tongue and Taste Buds

The surface of the tongue is covered with various small bumps called papillae, which either distribute what has been ingested (filiform papillae) or contain the sensory taste (or gustatory) receptor cells (fungiform, circumvallate, and foliate papillae). Embedded within each taste-related papilla are the taste buds—clusters of 30 to 100 gustatory receptor cells.

Assessment of the Mouth

Assessment of the Mouth

A thorough mouth assessment, including inspection and palpation of the lips, gums, tongue, tonsils, uvula, and pharynx, is crucial in detecting potential health issues. Diseases ranging from oral cancer to systemic conditions like diabetes could be identified early through careful oral examination. This article provides a detailed guide on conducting a comprehensive mouth assessment.
Mouth Inspection
The inspection begins with visually examining the mouth for symmetry, color, and size.

Accessory Organs

Accessory Organs

Accessory organs are those that participate in the digestion of food but do not come into direct contact with it like the mouth, stomach, or intestine do. Accessory organs secrete enzymes into the digestive tract to facilitate the breakdown of food.

The Hyoid Bone

The Hyoid Bone

The hyoid bone is a small U-shaped bone located in the upper neck at the level of the inferior mandible, with its tips pointing posteriorly. It does not directly articulate with any other bone in the body. The hyoid acts as the attachment site for the tongue, the larynx, and the pharynx. It is held in position by a series of small muscles attached from above or below. These muscles help to move the hyoid up/down or forward/back in coordination with movements of the tongue, larynx, and pharynx...

Cranial Nerves: Types Part II

Cranial Nerves: Types Part II

Cranial nerves are responsible for transmitting motor and sensory information between the brain and various parts of the body. There are twelve pairs of cranial nerves. While the first six innervate the head and neck, the latter six nerves innervate the head and neck, as well as organs and tissues in the thoracic and abdominal cavities. They facilitate communication, expression, and autonomic control within the human body.
Facial Nerve (Cranial Nerve VII)
Cranial nerve VII, or the facial nerve,...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Portable wireless monitoring of vital signs in hospital wards.

BJA education·2025

Same author

Liver Resection for Giant Hepatic Cavernous Hemangioma.

Middle East journal of digestive diseases·2023

Same author

A study of contralateral occult inguinal hernia in adult male patients undergoing total extraperitoneal herniorraphy.

Journal of family medicine and primary care·2020

Same author

Reply.

British journal of anaesthesia·2016

Same author

Using the STOP-BANG questionnaire to predict hypoxaemia in patients recovering from noncardiac surgery: a prospective cohort analysis.

British journal of anaesthesia·2016

Same author

Thyroid incidentaloma.

Indian journal of surgical oncology·2013

Same journal

Response to comments on: Diagnostic classification of dermatomyositis with and without electrodiagnostic study: real-world clinical practice.

Singapore medical journal·2026

Same journal

Comments on: Diagnostic classification of dermatomyositis with and without electrodiagnostic study: real-world clinical practice.

Singapore medical journal·2026

Same journal

Computed tomographic evaluation of bronchiolitis: unravelling the multifaceted spectrum of airways and pulmonary abnormalities.

Singapore medical journal·2026

Same journal

Approach to facial pain.

Singapore medical journal·2026

Same journal

Glioblastoma: current challenges and future horizons.

Singapore medical journal·2026

Same journal

The role of public health specialists in tertiary hospitals in Singapore.

Singapore medical journal·2026

See all related articles

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 22, 2026

In Vivo Evaluation of the Mechanical and Viscoelastic Properties of the Rat Tongue

In Vivo Evaluation of the Mechanical and Viscoelastic Properties of the Rat Tongue

Published on: July 6, 2017

An accessory tongue.

S Kumar¹, S K Tiwary, A K Khanna

¹Department of General Surgery, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India.

Singapore Medical Journal

|June 5, 2009

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

A rare accessory tongue anomaly was identified in a 28-year-old male. Surgical excision effectively treated this congenital condition.

More Related Videos

µTongue: A Microfluidics-Based Functional Imaging Platform for the Tongue In Vivo

µTongue: A Microfluidics-Based Functional Imaging Platform for the Tongue In Vivo

Published on: April 22, 2021

A Protocol for Comprehensive Assessment of Bulbar Dysfunction in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

A Protocol for Comprehensive Assessment of Bulbar Dysfunction in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

Published on: February 21, 2011

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 22, 2026

In Vivo Evaluation of the Mechanical and Viscoelastic Properties of the Rat Tongue

In Vivo Evaluation of the Mechanical and Viscoelastic Properties of the Rat Tongue

Published on: July 6, 2017

µTongue: A Microfluidics-Based Functional Imaging Platform for the Tongue In Vivo

µTongue: A Microfluidics-Based Functional Imaging Platform for the Tongue In Vivo

Published on: April 22, 2021

A Protocol for Comprehensive Assessment of Bulbar Dysfunction in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

A Protocol for Comprehensive Assessment of Bulbar Dysfunction in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

Published on: February 21, 2011

Area of Science:

Anatomy
Congenital Anomalies
Surgical Case Reports

Background:

Accessory tongue is an uncommon congenital anomaly, with limited documented cases in medical literature.
Understanding the prevalence and presentation of rare anatomical variations is crucial for medical professionals.

Observation:

A 28-year-old male patient presented with a diagnosed accessory tongue.
This case highlights a rare instance of this specific congenital malformation.

Findings:

The accessory tongue was confirmed as a rare anatomical anomaly in the patient.
The condition was successfully managed through a straightforward surgical excision procedure.

Implications:

This case adds to the scarce literature on accessory tongues, aiding future diagnostic and treatment strategies.
Simple surgical excision appears to be an effective treatment for accessory tongue anomalies.