The Tongue and Tasting
The tongue is the mot flexible muscle in our body! It is attached to the bottom of the mouth by the FRENULUM. It is also attached to the front and sides of the throat or pharynx. The upper surface of the TONGUE is covered with tiny bumps called PAPILLAE that contain tiny pores that are our TASTE BUDS.
There are 3 TYPES of PAPILLAE that help to grip food. We have about 10,000 taste buds.
1. FUNGIFORM are larger and in the front of the tongue.
2. FILIFORM are in the front of the tongue and are smaller and hairlike.
3. VALLATE are at the back of the tongue and are large and round. There are 8-12 of them.
The 4 kinds of taste buds are SWEET, SALTY, SOUR, and BITTER. Each taste bud has cells with microscopic hairs called MICROVILLI covered with taste receptors that send nerve signals to the brain for interpretation. If you have a cold the taste receptors are dulled. Taste helps us determine if the food is bad such as sour milk. Cold foods make the taste buds less receptive.
The tongue can’t take all the credit for tasting because the nose plays a part through smelling. HOLD AN ONION TO YOUR NOSE AND EAT AN APPLE TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS! The tongue pushes saliva back in the throat to be swallowed or we would be drooling everywhere. It also helps us talk! You should brush your tongue and avoid super hot foods that can burn the tongue.
The four kinds of taste buds are: BITTER, SALTY, SWEET and SOUR.
Taste bud cells last a short time and some are replaced every 24 hours. Fish have taste buds all over their bodies. Butterflies have taste buds on their feet shaped like bulbs
There are 10,000 taste buds in humans. Play with words that use the tongue to form or try a few tongue twisters with students.
MY FAVORITE TONGUE TWISTERS