(MOAN OF TASTE.
It would be a waste of words to de scribe the situation and form ofthe tongue. This organ presents a most interesting subject to the phisiologist, from the con. cern which it has in the functions of mas tication, deglutition, and articulation, be sides that it constitutes the organ of the sense of taste.
Its bulk is made up of numerous mus cles, which are distinct at their origin, hut become mixed and confused at their in sertion into the tongue. The union of these fibres with each other, and with the fatty substance which connects them, consti tutes the peculiar substance of the tongue. It is covered externally by a continuation of the common membrane of the mouth. This membrane, however, on the edges, tip, and upper surface of the organ, is covered with small projecting processes, called papilla, in which the sense of taste resides.
Towards the back of the tongue seve ral mucous glands are found, with open ings that would admit a bristle. These secrete a fluid, to facilitate the passage of the food through the isthmus faucium.
Next to these openings, and still at the posterior part of the organ, are found eight or ten large papilla, arranged in the form of the letter V, with the pointed part towards the throat. These are the
pipillz magna or capitata. They consist of a round body, surrounded by a eircu, lar fold of membrane. These also are mucous glands.
The most numerous class of papilla are those which occupy the sides and tip of the tongue. These are the smallest in size, so as to have been compared to the villi of the skin ; and conical in shape. They are called papilla conies or villosz. Among these a few larger ones are scat tered, the papilla seruilenticulares.
The tongue receives three large nerves on each side; 1st, the Flossopliaryngeal branch of thus eighth parr, distributed to the back of the tongue and upper part of the pharynx : 2ndly, the lingual nerve, or nerve of the 9th pair, which supplies the muscles: and 3rdly, the lingual branch of the inferior maxillary, which goes to the papilla chiefly.