tongue (redirected from given tongue)

tongue (tung) the movable muscular organ on the floor of the mouth; it is the chief organ of taste, and aids in mastication, swallowing, and speech.

The tongue, showing principal structures.

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bifid tongue  one with an anterior lengthwise cleft.

black tongue , black hairy tongue hairy tongue in which the papillae are brown or black.

cleft tongue  bifid t.

coated tongue  one covered with a whitish or yellowish layer consisting of desquamated epithelium, debris, bacteria, fungi, etc.

fissured tongue , furrowed tongue a tongue with numerous furrows or grooves on the dorsal surface, often radiating from a groove on the midline; it is sometimes a familial condition.

geographic tongue  benign migratory glossitis.

hairy tongue  one with the papillae elongated and hairlike.

raspberry tongue  a red, uncoated tongue, with elevated papillae, as seen a few days after the onset of the rash in scarlet fever.

red strawberry tongue  raspberry t..

scrotal tongue  fissured t.

white strawberry tongue  the white-coated tongue with prominent red papillae characteristic of the early stage of scarlet fever.

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tongue (tng)

n.

A mobile mass of muscular tissue that is covered with mucous membrane, occupies much of the cavity of the mouth, forms part of its floor, bears the organ of taste, and assists in chewing, swallowing, and speech.

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tongue

[tung]

Etymology: AS, tunge

the principal organ of the sense of taste that also assists in the mastication and deglutition of food. It is located in the floor of the mouth within the curve of the mandible. Its root is connected to the hyoid bone posteriorly. It is also connected to the epiglottis, soft palate, and pharynx. The apex of the tongue rests anteriorly against the lingual surfaces of the lower incisors. The mucous membrane connecting the tongue to the mandible reflects over the floor of the mouth to the lingual surface of the gingiva and in the midline of the floor is raised into a vertical fold. The dorsum of the tongue is divided into symmetric halves by a median sulcus, which ends posteriorly in the foramen cecum. A shallow sulcus terminalis runs from this foramen laterally and forward on either side to the margin of the organ. From the sulcus the anterior two thirds of the tongue are covered with papillae. The posterior third is smoother and contains numerous mucous glands and lymph follicles. The use of the tongue as an organ of speech is not anatomic but a secondary acquired characteristic. Also called glossa, lingua.

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tongue (tung),

n the muscular organ that is the main articulatory element in the production of speech and accounts for the clarity and fluidity of speech. Two groups of tongue muscles, the intrinsic and extrinsic, are united into one organ. Each group, however, has separate structural and functional characteristics.

Tongue.

tongue, amyloid (amyloid macroglossia),

n enlargement of the tongue resulting from amyloidosis.

tongue, antibiotic,

n a glossitis caused by sensitivity to an antibiotic, vitamin B complex deficiency associated with antibiotic therapy.

tongue, bald,

n See glossitis, atrophic.

tongue, beefy,

n erythematous or
atrophic glossitis. See also glossitis, atrophic; glossitis, Moeller's.

tongue, bifid (cleft tongue),

n a tongue divided by a midline cleft.

tongue, black hairy (lingua nigra),

n a black appearance of the dorsal surface of the tongue; caused by elongated filiform papillae and an accumulation of dark pigments, microorganisms, and food debris.

Black hairy tongue.

tongue blade,

n a narrow, wooden instrument used by the patient to clean the tongue. Can also be used during an examination to aid in inspection of the teeth, gums, and oral cavity.

tongue, cleft,

n See tongue, bifid.

tongue, coated,

n nonspecific term used to describe the condition of the tongue resulting from whitish or otherwise discolored accumulations of food debris, bacterial plaques, and hyperplastic filiform papillae. Reduced function, as in general illness or laryngitis, is a primary cause.

tongue, cobblestone,

n hyperplasia and hyperemia of fungiform and filiform papillae of the tongue in riboflavin deficiency. Formerly used to describe syphilitic glossitis with leukoplakia.

tongue crib,

n an appliance used to limit undesirable tongue movements, usually constructed to prevent its protrusion between the anterior teeth.

tongue depressor,

n.pl a flat wooden stick used to position the tongue so that the back of the throat may be seen. Several may be used together as oral cavity props.

tongue, fissured (furrowed tongue),

n a tongue traversed by clefts that may be arranged like the veins of a leaf or give the tongue a “pavement block” appearance. It is seen in 5% of all dental patients but in 13% of those older than 50 years.

tongue, flat,

n paralysis of the transverse lingual muscles such that the borders of the tongue cannot be rolled. The condition results from congenital syphilis.

tongue, furrowed,

n See tongue, fissured.

tongue, geographic,

n (benign migratory glossitis, glossitis areata exfoliativa, glossitis migrans, wandering rash), a condition characterized by a chronic, circumscribed, more or less circular desquamation of the superficial epithelium of the dorsum of the tongue. The spots of desquamation (redder areas) migrate continuously, usually passing from the region near the vallate papillae toward the tip of the tongue. This condition involves the filiform lingual papillae. The tongue can seem more sensi-tive than usual during times of exacerbation.

Geographic tongue.

tongue, hairy,

n hyperplasia of the filiform lingual papillae, often associated with oral moniliasis and the use of antibiotics or tobacco.

tongue, lobulated

n a congenital defect, with a secondary lobe of the tongue arising from its surface.

tongue, magenta,

n the reddish-purple tongue of riboflavin deficiency.

tongue margin, indentation,

n See crenation of tongue.

tongue piercing,

n a deliberate pierc-ing of the tongue in order to wear tongue jewelry, which creates a high risk of life-threatening systemic effects, as well as dental abrasion, gingival recession, and fractured teeth, especially during athletic activities.

tongue room,

n See tongue space.

tongue, Sandwith's bald,

n.pr a condition in which the tongue is very smooth because of a loss of fusiform papillae and is fiery red and enlarged because of severe inflammation; seen in pellagra.

tongue scraper,

n an oral hygiene implement drawn down the tongue from the back to the front in order to reduce oral cavity odors and plaque-producing bacteria.

tongue, smooth,

n See glossitis, atrophic.

tongue space,

n the space available for functioning of the tongue.

tongue, strawberry,

n See strawberry tongue.

tongue thrust,

n thrusting of the tongue between the anterior teeth, especially in the initial stage of swallowing. This action, often combined with a resting position also between the teeth, may inhibit normal eruption and produce an open bite.

tongue, white hairy (lingua alba, lingua villosa alba),

n hairy tongue characterized by elongation of the filiform papillae but without the dark staining seen in lingua nigra (black hairy tongue). See also tongue, black hairy.

tonguetie,

n See ankyloglossia.

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tongue

a muscular organ on the floor of the mouth; it aids in chewing, swallowing and speech, and is the location of organs of taste. The taste buds are located in the papillae, which are projections on the upper surface of the tongue.

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tongue abscess

as well as true abscesses there are pseudoabscesses, common in companion birds, which are accumulations of inspissated, keratinized, epithelial debris, caused usually by a nutritional deficiency of vitamin A.

bifid tongue

a tongue with a lengthwise cleft.

bird tongue

see bird tongue.

black tongue

see blacktongue.

cleft tongue

bifid tongue.

coated tongue

one covered with a whitish or yellowish layer consisting of desquamated epithelium, debris, bacteria, fungi, etc.

tongue cyst

see thyroglossal cyst.

tongue deformity

the tongue may be shrunken because of prior inflammation, the tip may have been torn off, e.g. in lambs by predators. There is difficulty in prehending food and in managing in the mouth so that saliva and ruminal juices drool down the chin staining skin. Called tobacco chewers.

tongue edema

caused by local obstruction to venous blood flow, most dramatically displayed in a fetus presented anteriorly but delayed in parturition because of incompatibility in size between it and the birth canal, or bee or other hymenoptera sting.

tongue frenulum

see lingual frenulum.

furrowed tongue

a tongue with numerous furrows or grooves on the dorsal surface, often radiating from a groove on the midline.

geographic tongue

a tongue with denuded patches, surrounded by thickened epithelium.

hairy tongue

one with the papillae elongated and hairlike.

tongue hypertrophy

an occasional congenital anomaly in pigs.

tongue inflammation

see glossitis.

inherited smooth tongue

see smooth tongue.

lolling tongue

one that protrudes from the mouth, usually to one side. Seen in some short-nosed dogs and as a vice in horses.

tongue lyssa

see lyssa (2).

tongue paralysis

see glossoplegia.

tongue protrusion

caused by paralysis (hypoglossal nerve dysfunction), Phalaris spp. poisoning, swelling, e.g. edema, laceration.

tongue rolling

a vice in housed cattle. The animal rolls its tongue around in its half-opened mouth and may partially swallow it.

scrotal tongue

fissured tongue.

tongue vice

see tongue rolling (above).

wooden tongue

see actinobacillosis.

tongue worm

see linguatulaserrata.

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tongue

lingua Anatomy A complex, highly mobile muscular organ anchored in the floor of the mouth, which is central to speaking, chewing, swallowing, is covered by a mucosae invested with tastebuds, is the main organ of taste, assists in forming speech sounds and, when used indisciminately, a major source of interpersonal problems. See Black hairy tongue, Coated tongue, Flycatcher tongue, Geographic tongue, Golden tongue, Hairy tongue, Liver tongue, Magenta tongue, Raspberry tongue, Scrotal tongue, Smart tongue, Strawberry tongue, White strawberry tongue.

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Patient discussion about given tongue.

Q. What is the treatment for tongue cancer? My Father in Law is 65 and has just been diagnosed with tongue cancer. What treatment will he be undergoing? What are his survival rates?

A. Treating tongue cancer will depend on the size of the cancer and whether or not it has spread to the lymph nodes in your neck. The best treatment for very small tongue cancers is surgery. Most very small cancers of the oral tongue can be quickly and successfully treated by surgical removal leaving behind little cosmetic or functional change. For larger tumours that have spread to the lymph nodes in the neck, you will most likely have a combination of surgery and radiotherapy.

Q. What is Tongue cancer? I heard that smoking can cause tongue cancer. Is this true and what is tongue cancer?

A. Yes, smoking can cause tongue cancer. Smoking Tobacco (cigarettes, cigars and pipes) and drinking a lot of alcohol are the main risk factors for cancer of the head (including the tongue) and neck.

Q. What are the symptoms of tongue cancer? I have a white patch on my tongue for quite a while. I tried scratching it off but it starts bleeding. Is it cancer?

A. The symptoms of tongue cancer may include:
A red or white patch on the tongue, that will not go away
A sore throat that does not go away
A sore spot on the tongue that does not go away
Pain when swallowing
Numbness in the mouth that will not go away
Unexplained bleeding from the tongue (that is, not caused by biting your tongue or other injury)
Pain in the ear (rare)
However, don't be alarmed as these symptoms may be due to a less serious medical condition. But it is important to check symptoms with your GP just to make sure.