Tongue
The tongue is a muscular organ in the mouth of a typical tetrapod, that functions as a digestive organ by facilitating the movement of food during mastication and assisting swallowing. Other important functions include speech and taste. The tongue consists of striated muscle and occupies the floor of the mouth. The dorsal mucosal surface consists of stratified squamous epithelium, with numerous papillae and taste buds.
Tongue, its colors and indication
- A healthy person’s tongue is usually slightly moist and pinkish-red in color.
- In diseases like constipation, indigestion, fever etc. the tongue becomes white as usual. A thick white material on the tongue indicates the severity of the disease. If the tongue turns from white to brown or green, it indicates that the disease is serious, and it indicates restlessness.
- The tongue is very red in cases of gout and inflammatory diseases. In scarlet fever, it is very red. . In acute fever, the color is either black-red or almost black.
- In acute urticaria, the tongue is red and fleshy. In debilitating diseases, the tongue is thin and red. In acute fever, the tongue color will be blackish red or almost black.
- In heart diseases, the tongue is blue when the heart is not working properly. In the second stage of STI, in Cancer, in TB, there will be rash on the tongue.
- Usually, due to excessive drinking, smoking, STI etc., white spots are formed on the tongue. In these white areas, the skin may break and become inflamed. Small sores on the tongue and hard lumps may cause cancer so be very careful.
In hysteria and hypochondria, the tongue hangs gracefully and itches. The tongue trembles in nervous diseases such as paralysis and in lethargic diseases when the bowels are disturbed.
- The tongue becomes enlarged when mercury and other medicines are used for Tongue swelling, heart disease, anemia, liver diseases and Cancer.
- The size of the tongue is small in dry diseases such as chronic gastritis, peritonitis and celiac disease. Glossitis can cause suffocation.