- Tongue: muscular organ in the oral cavity for mastication, deglutition, speech and taste.
- Divided by the sulcus terminalis into anterior two-thirds (oral part) and posterior one-third (pharyngeal part).
Dorsal Surface
- Foramen caecum, at the apex of the sulcus terminalis, marks the site of origin of the thyroglossal duct in embryonic life.
- Oral part (anterior two-thirds): median furrow (bilateral origin) and numerous papillae give a moist, pink, velvety mucosa.
- Four types of lingual papillae: vallate, filiform, fungiform, foliate.
dorsal surface of the tongue Dorsal surface of the tongue.