Sensory Organ - Tongue (sense of taste)

Uvula

It's that dangly part in the back of your throat. Because the uvula is basically unique to humans, scientists basically agree that it primarily serves as an accessory to speech. The uvula seems to be there to provide the proper lubrication for complicated human speech.

Salivary Glands

Located under the tongue, near the frenulum. Produces saliva.

Taste Buds

Taste Buds are embedded in the papillae. The taste buds connect to our brain. The taste buds are responsible for our five tastes: sweet (sugar), salty, sour (like lemons), bitter (like coffee), and umami (savory like beef or soy sauce)

Circumvallate Papillae

The Circumvallate Papillae are involved in the sensations of taste, particularly umami, and have taste buds embedded in their surfaces. They lie near the back of the tongue, are a bit bigger, and are arranged in a V-shape.

Filiform Papillae

The Filiform Papillae cover the rest of the tongue not covered by the other papillae. The main job of the Filiform Papillae is help the tongue keep itself clean and rough up the food we eat.

Foliate Papillae

The Foliate Papillae are involved in the sensations of taste and have taste buds embedded in their surfaces. They look like grooves on the sides of the tongue, closer to the back.

Fungiform Papillae

The Fungiform Papillae are involved in the sensations of taste and have taste buds embedded in their surfaces. There are mushroom-shaped and are scattered over the top and sides of the tongue

Frenulum

The thin strip of tissue that runs up-down from the floor of the mouth to the undersurface of the tongue. It tends to limit the movement of the tongue, and in some people, it is so short that it actually interferes with speaking.

Palatine Tonsils

The tonsils on the left and right sides at the back of the throat (look like white/pink lumps). They are part of your immune system and helps your body fight bacteria and viruses.

Lingual Tonsil

Tonsil tissue on both sides of the back of the tongue (different from what we normally think of as tonsils). This is part of your immune system and helps your body fight bacteria and viruses.