The tongue is anatomically divided into different parts:
- base or root/ radix linguae: located between the palatal arches. This part contains the smallest salivary glands.
- upper surface/ Dorsum linguae:
triangular-shaped area behind the tip of the tongue
- border of the tongue/ Margo linguae: starts 1cm behind the tip of the tongue and proceeds until the frontal palatal arch
- underside/ ventral surface of the tongue: ranges from the fold of the mouth base to 1cm behind the tip of the tongue
- tip of the tongue: is a circular area with a radius of 1 cm
On the upper surface, the mucosa contains numerous papillae with different mechanical function. We find filiform papillae and papillae with taste buds fungiform and vallatae papilla.
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