tongue
Enable an agent to recognise a tongue as an anatomical organ, describe its structure and functional state, and identify appropriate observations or actions within the organism's context.
Bundle → Layer → Finding → Questions Filled
6 bundles · 11 layers · 18 findings · 28 questions
Organ identity and boundaries Establish which anatomical structure is being modelled and whose tongue it is.
Host and anatomical identity
Connect the organ to an individual organism and an applicable anatomical account.
Species-grounded identification
Record the evidence supporting identification as a tongue, distinguishing direct observation from taxonomic expectation.
- Which individual organism, taxon and life stage does this tongue belong to? provenance
- Which anatomical criteria establish that this structure is a tongue in that organism? definition
Organ extent and continuity
Separate the tongue from adjacent structures and distinguish intact organs from partial specimens.
Boundaries and specimen status
Describe the organ's extent, attachments and completeness before assigning measurements or capabilities.
- Where does the tongue end and the floor of the mouth or supporting apparatus begin in this species? boundary
- Is the observation of an intact tongue in place, a partly absent tongue, a detached organ or a tissue fragment? provenance
Form and tissue organisation Describe tongue geometry, regional anatomy and tissue features.
Regions and geometry
Locate anatomical regions and measure form under explicit conditions.
Landmarked tongue dimensions
Define measurement endpoints and posture so apparent changes are not confused with extension or deformation.
- Which landmarks define tongue length, width and thickness for this observation? measurement
- Was the tongue resting, protruded, stretched or otherwise deformed when measured? measurement
Surface and internal architecture
Describe visible specialisations and independently established internal tissue organisation.
Regional tissue features
Record papillae or other surface features where present without assuming that each feature is sensory.
- Which surface structures occur in each region, and how were they identified? definition
- What evidence establishes the underlying tissue organisation and any sensory structures, beyond surface appearance? provenance
Movement and mechanical control Represent how the tongue changes position and shape within its anatomical constraints.
Movement repertoire
Record movements demonstrated in a specified observation context.
Position and shape changes
Distinguish observed movement, limited movement and movements that were not assessed.
- Which protrusion, retraction, lateral or shape-changing movements were actually observed? measurement
- Under which task and observation conditions were range, symmetry and repeatability assessed? measurement
Attachments and control
Relate movement to supporting anatomy and documented control pathways.
Mechanical and neural constraints
Keep visible movement restrictions separate from unverified explanations involving attachments, muscles or nerves.
- Which attachments or supporting structures constrain the tongue's movement in this organism? boundary
- What evidence supports any attribution of altered movement to tissue mechanics or motor control? provenance
Sensation and oral functions Connect documented sensory capabilities and movements to specific oral tasks.
Sensory capabilities
Represent sensory roles with evidence appropriate to the organism and assessment method.
Evidenced tongue sensation
Separate established sensory anatomy, measured responses and inferred capability.
- Which sensory modalities are documented for this tongue, and by what anatomical or functional evidence? provenance
- How does the assessment distinguish tongue-mediated sensation from smell or sensation elsewhere in the mouth? boundary
Task-specific contributions
Describe the tongue's role within coordinated feeding and other species-relevant behaviours.
Tongue role in an observed task
Attribute only the demonstrated part of a task to the tongue while recording coordination with neighbouring structures.
- What does the tongue demonstrably contribute to food capture, manipulation, swallowing, grooming or vocalisation in this observation? measurement
- Which parts of that task depend on jaws, palate, throat or other structures beyond this model? boundary
Condition and assessment Record local tissue observations, functional changes and appropriate assessment needs.
Local condition and change
Locate tissue changes and compare observations with an explicit baseline.
Regional condition record
Describe abnormalities by location and observable properties without converting them into unsupported diagnoses.
- Where are changes in surface integrity, colour, moisture, coating or swelling, and what are their extent and duration? measurement
- What baseline and observation conditions support treating this appearance as a change rather than normal variation? provenance
Functional impact and next actions
Connect observed changes to relevant tasks and qualified assessment.
Evidence-bounded assessment
Identify what further observation or professional assessment is needed without embedding disease or treatment models.
- Which observed tongue changes coincide with altered oral function, and what supports a connection? provenance
- Which further observations or qualified assessments are appropriate for this organism and setting? action
Evidence and external alignment What the world already says about this thing, gathered so the model can be checked against it.
Reported evidence
Findings from the breadth pass, kept separate from the structural claims.
Kinds and varieties
Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.
- Which of these kinds and varieties hold for the sense of tongue this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Identifiers and schemes
Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.
- Which of these identifiers and schemes hold for the sense of tongue this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Standards and regulation
Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.
- Which of these standards and regulation hold for the sense of tongue this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Real-world use
Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.
- Which of these real-world use hold for the sense of tongue this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Typical measurements
Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.
- Which of these typical measurements hold for the sense of tongue this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Failure modes and hazards
Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.
- Which of these failure modes and hazards hold for the sense of tongue this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Regional variation
Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.
- Which of these regional variation hold for the sense of tongue this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Neighbouring kinds and how to tell them apart
Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.
- Which of these neighbouring kinds and how to tell them apart hold for the sense of tongue this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Classifiers Filled
- Family
- Thing Registry
- Category
- Physical world and living systems
- Entry kind
- thing
- Plane
- PHY
- Domain
- PHY.OBJ
- Other names and narrower kinds
- human tongue, finch tongue, forked tongue, horse tongue
What it is Filled
A mobile, predominantly muscular organ on the floor of the mouth, treated in human anatomy as an anatomical heterogeneous complex of interwoven intrinsic and extrinsic skeletal muscle covered by mucosa that bears lingual papillae and taste buds, and that contributes to taste, mastication, deglutition and articulation of sound.
In scope
- Identification of the tongue, its host organism and its anatomical boundaries
- Species-specific shape, regions, attachments and surface structures
- Tongue movement, deformation and coordination with neighbouring structures
- Sensory capabilities and contributions to feeding, swallowing, grooming or vocalisation where applicable
- Observed tissue condition, functional limitations and changes over time
Out of scope
- Tongue as a synonym for a language or a figurative mode of expression
- Whole-organism taxonomy, life history and conservation assessment
- Teeth, palate, jaws, salivary glands and other neighbouring organs as independent structures
- Diseases, diagnostic criteria and treatment protocols as independently modelled clinical concepts
- Tongue meat as a food product and its processing or trade
- Tongue-like parts of tools, footwear or other manufactured objects
Why it exists Filled
Enable an agent to recognise a tongue as an anatomical organ, describe its structure and functional state, and identify appropriate observations or actions within the organism's context.
Distinguishing features Filled
- Identify an anatomical oral structure belonging to an animal, rather than infer identity from an elongated shape or the word 'tongue'.
- Check its position, attachments and tissue organisation against anatomy appropriate to the host species; a human-like muscular form is not a universal requirement.
- Distinguish the tongue's own surface and body from the palate, floor of the mouth and structures that merely contact or support it.
- Distinguish an entire tongue from a surface feature such as a papilla, a sensory structure such as a taste bud, or a detached tissue sample.
- Do not classify every protrusible feeding appendage as a tongue; establish anatomical identity before assigning functions.
What robots and AI may and may not do Filled
Must not
- Diagnose tongue conditions from photographs in place of a clinician.
- Mock speech differences from tongue conditions.
- Advise any procedure on the tongue, including tongue-tie release, without a clinician.
Only with a human decision
- Any treatment decision about a patient's tongue.
May
- Explain the tongue's anatomy and functions from medical sources.
- Advise seeing a clinician about lasting sores, swelling or changes.
Moral aspects Filled
- Lasting tongue sores can be cancer that is treatable only if caught early.
- Speech and swallowing problems affect dignity and social life.
Who is affected
- Patients
- Infants and parents
- People with speech differences
Owners Filled
Steward
Nobody owns an organ; clinicians care for it in each patient.
Links to other meta-models Filled
parent
- Q112826975 - registry parent class
- Q3355930 - registry parent class
- Q66561296 - registry parent class
What else AI and robots need to interact with it Filled
Identity and identifiers required Filled
- Vercy registry: vr.tr.tongue
- Wikidata: Q9614 (https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q9614)
Direct properties required Filled
- Host organism and life stage: Individual organism reference, taxon reference and recorded life stage
- Anatomical continuity: Intact in situ | partly absent | detached organ | tissue fragment | unknown
- Regional morphology: Species-appropriate regions, overall shape and documented surface features
- Dimensions under specified conditions: Length, width and thickness in mm, with landmarks and resting or extended condition
- Attachments and support: Named attachment sites and supporting structures with anatomical evidence
- Movement capability: Observed protrusion, retraction, lateral movement and shape changes; limitation or uncertainty recorded
- Sensory capability: Documented gustatory, tactile, thermal or other capabilities, each with evidence and applicability
- Surface and tissue condition: Region-specific colour, moisture, coating, integrity, swelling and visible abnormalities
- Contribution to oral tasks: Observed role in food capture, manipulation, swallowing, grooming or vocalisation
Recognition required Filled
- The tongue forms a fleshy muscular body on the floor of the mouth, with a free tip directed toward the front teeth.
- Its upper surface usually bears numerous small papillae, distinguishing it from the smoother lining of the cheeks.
- Its underside has a midline mucosal fold connecting it to the floor of the mouth.
Capabilities and actions required Filled
- Identify and annotate tongue regions using anatomy appropriate to the host species.
- Record images and dimensions with posture, landmarks and observation conditions.
- Describe observed tongue movements and their coordination during relevant oral tasks.
- Compare surface condition and functional observations over time under comparable conditions.
- Locate an observed abnormality and connect it to an appropriate assessment workflow without diagnosing from appearance alone.
Hazards and failure modes required Filled
- Tongue swelling can obstruct the airway and compromise breathing.
- Impaired tongue movement or sensation can disrupt swallowing and increase aspiration risk.
- Trauma to the tongue can cause pain, bleeding and difficulty eating or speaking.
Standards and interfaces required Filled
- Terminologia Anatomica, issued by the Federative International Programme for Anatomical Terminology of the International Federation of Associations of Anatomists, standardizes names for the human tongue and its anatomical parts.
Context of use required Filled
- The tongue moves food within the mouth and helps form and transport a food bolus for swallowing.
- It supports taste and human speech articulation and is examined in dental, oral health and swallowing assessments.
Sources Filled
- tongue (Q9614) - Stable identifier; description as a mobile organ inside the mouth; part-of mouth; arterial supply by the lingual artery; motor innervation by the hypoglossal nerve; explicit difference from language; Unicode character.
- tongue 2403 (Terminologia Anatomica Humana unit TAH:U2403) - Official Latin term lingua; taxonomic definition as an anatomical heterogeneous complex of muscular tissues serving taste, mastication, deglutition and sound articulation; partonomy under mouth.
- Tongue: Anatomy, muscles, neurovasculature and histology - Parts (apex, body, root), dorsal versus ventral surfaces, intrinsic and extrinsic muscles, lingual-artery supply, average human length of about 10 cm, and the four papilla types.
- Physiology of the tongue with emphasis on taste transduction - Terminal sulcus dividing anterior and posterior tongue; human circumvallate count (about 4-18, mean near 9); fungiform papilla density by sex; meta-analytic total of roughly 4,600 taste buds across papilla types.
- In brief: How does our sense of taste work? - Adult taste-bud count of about 2,000-4,000; fungiform count about 200-400; circumvallate papillae about 7-12 at the base of the tongue.
- Tongue - Average human length from oropharynx to tip of about 10 cm; reported adult tongue mass about 99 g in males and 79 g in females; roles in mastication, speech and cleaning the teeth.
- ICD-11 MMS DA03 Diseases of the tongue (Glossitis, Geographic tongue) and LA31.2 Ankyloglossia - WHO disease codes that govern inflammation of the tongue, geographic tongue, and tongue-tie as named conditions of this organ.
- The tongue. Glossitis / Conditions affecting the tongue - Clinical grouping of tongue disease under ICD-10 K14 / C02.9 / Q38.3 and ICD-11 DA03 / 2B62 / LA31, and the organ as a site of inflammatory, neoplastic and congenital lesions.
Open questions
- Does the registry intend tongue to cover animal tongues broadly, or is its unstated source concept restricted to human anatomy?
- Which comparative anatomical authority should determine whether structures called tongues in different animal groups belong within this entry?
- Which regional terms, surface classifications and measurement landmarks can be shared across species, and which require extensions?
- Which validated methods and reference conditions should govern comparisons of tongue movement, sensation and task performance?
- Does an existing Vercy organ or world model already own this concept or any of its capabilities, requiring reuse rather than a second publication?
Machine files
Provenance
thing registry research (pass 2) · unreviewed
Built from: models/things/publications/thing-q9614/spec.json