Читать книгу Basic Guide to Oral Health Education and Promotion - Alison Chapman - Страница 45

The tongue is a muscular, mobile organ, which lies in the floor of the mouth, and is comprised of four surfaces:

1 Dorsal (upper) surface – covered by a thick, keratinised epithelium to withstand chewing, and a large number of projections called papillae. These papillae contain taste buds. The dorsal surface is divided into two sections:Anterior (front) two‐thirds (against the palate).Posterior (back) third (towards the pharynx).

2 Ventral (under) surface – covered by a thin mucous membrane. In the middle of the front section, the mucosa is divided by a sharp fold (the lingual frenulum), which joins the tip of the tongue to the floor of the mouth.

3 Tip – the pointed front, which can be protruded or moved around the mouth by muscular action. For a baby, the tip of the tongue is an important sensory organ, which explores and identifies objects. It also acts as a great natural cleanser, removing food debris.

4 Root – the deep attachment of the tongue, which forms the anterior surface of the pharynx.