408 



HITCHCOCK'S AN AT OM Y 



mastication, swallowing, tasting, articulation, etc., it is neces- 

 sary that the muscular fibers should run in various directions. 

 That, however, which is commonly known as the tongue is 

 only the tip of it, while the largest portion lies in the front 

 and lower portion of the pharynx, where most of the muscu- 

 lar actions are performed. 



752. Use of the Papillae — The papillae of the tongue, as 

 those of the skin, are constructed for the purpose of giving 

 as much surface of nerve to be exposed as possible, leaving it 

 mostly in t e form of a loop. The filiform papillae are not 

 the seat of the sense of taste or touch, but are analogous to 

 the lingual spines of lower animals (which gives such rough- 

 ness to their tongues), which aid in mastication and protec- 

 tion of the tongue. As the sense of touch is most acute at 

 the tip of the tongue, it is supposed that the fungiform papilla? 

 are the instruments of touch to the tongue ; and as we acquire 

 the sense of taste more at the base than at the tip of the 

 tongue, and as the nerves are more abundant and finest at the 

 circumvallate papillae, these probably administer mainly to the 

 sense of taste. 



753. Object of this Sense —The main use of this sense is 

 to direct us in the choice of proper articles of food, and by 

 this means to excite the flow of saliva and mucus, to aid in 

 digesting food. In man, however, this sense would be an un- 

 safe guide, since this alone can not aid us to distinguish whole- 

 some from poisonous food, although many of the lower animals 

 seem able to make such a distinction by this sense alone. 



754. Effect of Education on Taste. — Taste is made won- 

 derfully acute by education. Epicures are able to tell the 

 manner in which game was killed, the spices used in cooking 

 it, and the length of time since it was killed, when eating it. 



751. Why are there so many muscular fibers in the tongue ? Where does the larger 

 portion of this organ lie ? 752. Of what use are the papillae? W r hat sensation is gained 

 by the filiform papillae? In what papillae does the sense of taste mainly exist? 753- 

 What is the use of this sense ? Is it alone a safe guide for man? 754. What effect has 

 education upon taste ? Give instances. 



