8 Amazing Facts You Didn't Know About Your Tongue

IT'S NOT THE STRONGEST MUSCLE IN THE BODY.

It's a common misconception, says Voigt. But depending on how you measure strength, that title could be more justifiably claimed by the heart, the jaw bone's masseter, or the gluteus maximus in your butt. While the tongue is very strong because “it’s made up of many muscles both intrinsic and extrinsic,” Voigt says, its notability lies in its flexibility. The tongue has unique biomechanics—unlike other muscles, it doesn't surround any supporting bones, and it needs to be able to make three-dimensional changes in shape to handle all the speaking, eating, and swallowing we require of it.