8 little-known health secrets of the tongue

The tongue is one of the most familiar organs to people, and it is responsible for important functions such as speaking, chewing, swallowing and distinguishing tastes. But do people really understand it?

The average length is about 10 cm

The average tongue length is about 10 cm. According to the latest data from the Guinness World Records, the longest human tongue is 10.1 cm. It is measured with the tongue extended. In fact, if calculated from the root of the tongue to the tip of the tongue, the average length of a human tongue is about 10 cm.

There are thousands of taste buds

The tongue has thousands of taste buds. A recent study in the United States found that the number of taste buds on a person's tongue can range from 2,000 to 10,000. Taste buds are renewed every 10 to 14 days.

Taste buds cannot be seen with the naked eye

Taste buds are invisible to the naked eye. Taste buds are invisible to the human eye. The small pink bumps that people can see on the tongue are medically called "lingual papillae." On each tongue papilla, there is a bud-like thing called a taste bud.

Taste maps are a misunderstanding

"Different tastes are felt in different parts of the tongue" is a misunderstanding. It has long been believed that different parts of the tongue sense different tastes, hence the concept of a "taste map." In fact, this is a misunderstanding. Each part of the tongue can sense different tastes.

Tongue rolling ability is not entirely inherited

The ability to roll your tongue isn't entirely genetic. Dr. John McDonald, professor of biological sciences at the University of Delaware, found that multiple research results show that the ability to roll the tongue is not a simple genetic trait, but is also affected by environmental factors.

It's not the strongest muscle in the body.

The tongue is not the strongest muscle in the body. The tongue is not only very flexible, but also helps us perform activities such as speaking and eating. The tongue is made up of eight different muscles and rarely gets tired. But the tongue is not the strongest muscle in the human body. The jaw muscles exert the greatest pressure, the quadriceps and gluteus maximus are the strongest, and the cardiac muscles are generally the busiest.

Color can reflect health status

The color of your tongue can reflect your health. A healthy tongue should be pink. Allergies and infections may cause glossitis, a condition in which the tongue becomes bright red and is accompanied by a fever and sore throat. According to the Mayo Clinic in the United States, white spots on the tongue and inside the mouth may be thrush.

Hypertrophic people are at greater risk of sleep apnea

People with thick tongue are at greater risk of sleep apnea. A recent study from the University of Pennsylvania found that people with higher fat content and larger tongues are at a relatively greater risk of developing obstructive sleep apnea.