Oral Physiology and Occlusion - The Tongue

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts from Lesson 3 on the tongue, including its anatomy, physiology, functions, and common conditions.

Tongue

A muscular organ in the mouth covered with moist pink tissue called mucosa, vital for mastication, deglutition, and speech.

Mucosa

The moist tissue that covers the tongue.

Papillae

Tiny bumps on the tongue that give it a rough texture and house taste buds.

Taste Buds

Collections of nerve-like cells on the papillae that connect to nerves in the brain and detect taste.

Lingual Frenulum

The tissue holding down the front of the tongue.

Hyoid Bone

The bone at the back of the mouth to which the tongue is anchored.

Mastication

The process of chewing.

Deglutition

The act of swallowing.

Extrinsic Muscles of the Tongue

Muscles attached to specific bone sites outside the tongue that move the tongue as a whole.

Intrinsic Muscles of the Tongue

Muscles that change the shape of the tongue and have no attachments to skeletal structures.

Genioglossus

An extrinsic muscle of the tongue responsible for protruding it.

Hyoglossus

An extrinsic muscle that depresses the tongue.

Styloglossus

An extrinsic muscle that moves the tongue superiorly and posteriorly.

Palatoglossus

An extrinsic muscle that elevates the root of the tongue.

Filiform Papillae

Smallest and most numerous papillae on the tongue, not associated with taste buds.

Fungiform Papillae

Rounded elevations on the tongue containing taste buds on their surfaces.

Foliate Papillae

Leaf-shaped papillae located in furrows along the posterior sides of the tongue.

Circumvallate Papillae

Larger papillae located at the junction of the anterior and posterior parts of the tongue, containing taste buds.

Ankyloglossia

A condition also known as being tongue-tied, which may cause difficulties in nursing and speech.

Taste Map

The incorrect concept that different parts of the tongue detect different tastes.

Hypoglossal Nerve

The cranial nerve (CN XII) responsible for motor control of the tongue muscles.

Chorda Tympani

A branch of the facial nerve (CN VII) responsible for taste sensation from the anterior two-thirds of the tongue.

Candidiasis (Thrush)

A yeast infection of the mouth and tongue caused by Candida albicans.

Macroglossia

An abnormally large tongue that can have various causes.

Geographic tongue

A harmless condition characterized by migratory ridges and colored spots on the tongue.

Atrophic Glossitis

A smooth tongue resulting from the loss of its bumpy texture, often due to nutritional deficiency.

Canker Sores

Small, painful ulcers in the mouth that are not contagious.

Oral Leukoplakia

White patches on the tongue that cannot be scraped off, which may progress to cancer.

Hairy Tongue

A condition where papillae overgrow, giving the tongue a white or black appearance.