A human tongue

The tongue is a muscular hydrostat on the floors of the mouths of most vertebrates whichmanipulates food for mastication . It is the primary organ of taste ( gustation ), as much of the upper surface of the tongue is covered in papillae and taste buds . It is sensitive and kept moist by saliva , and is richly supplied with nerves and blood vessels . In humans a secondary function of the tongue is phonetic articulation.

[ 1 ] The tongue also serves as a natural means of cleaning one's teeth.

[ 2 ] The ability to perceive different tastes is not localised in different parts of the tongue, as is widely believed.

[ 3 ] This error arose because of misinterpretation of some 19th century research