Zunge

Zunge is the German term for the tongue, the muscular organ of the oral cavity that participates in tasting, swallowing, and speech. In humans the tongue occupies the floor of the mouth and is divided conceptually into an anterior two-thirds (the oral part) and a posterior third (the pharyngeal part). It is connected to the mandible, hyoid bone, and surrounding tissues by muscles and mucosa, and is covered on its dorsum by a mucous membrane with various papillae.

Anatomy and structure: The tongue contains intrinsic muscles that alter its shape and extrinsic muscles that move it. The four extrinsic muscles are genioglossus, hyoglossus, styloglossus, and palatoglossus (the latter often considered part of the pharyngeal plexus). The dorsum bears filiform, fungiform, circumvallate, and foliate papillae, which host taste buds (primarily on fungiform and circumvallate). The tongue is innervated and supplied by several nerves and vessels, including the hypoglossal nerve (motor to most tongue muscles), the lingual nerve (sensation from the anterior two-thirds), the chorda tympani (taste from the anterior two-thirds joining the lingual nerve), and the glossopharyngeal nerve (taste and sensation from the posterior third). The lingual artery provides arterial blood; venous drainage is largely via the lingual veins to the internal jugular system.

Function: The tongue manipulates food for chewing and mixing with saliva, participates in taste perception, assists in forming speech sounds, and aids in swallowing. Developmentally, the tongue arises from pharyngeal arches and is highly active in humans.

Clinical notes: Conditions impacting the tongue include glossitis, geographic tongue, macroglossia, and traumatic injuries or tumors. Variations in size, coating, or texture are common and can reflect health status or local irritation.