The tongue is a muscular organ in the mouth that plays a crucial role in various functions, including taste, speech, and swallowing. It is covered with taste buds that help detect different flavors such as sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and umami. The tongue also aids in the mechanical breakdown of food by moving it around the mouth. In addition to its digestive functions, the tongue is essential for articulation in speech. It helps form sounds by changing shape and position within the mouth. The tongue is also involved in the process of swallowing, pushing food toward the throat to be ingested.