Your tongue is made of eight different muscles working together without a single bone to lean on.

The tongue is what scientists call a muscular hydrostat. This is the same type of structure found in an elephant's trunk or an octopus's tentacle. It consists of four muscles that change its shape and four others that move it around your mouth. Because these muscles aren't tied to a skeleton, they can move in almost any direction.While many people think the tongue is the strongest muscle, that title actually belongs to the masseter. The masseter is your jaw muscle, and it can close your teeth with a force of 200 pounds. However, the tongue is a champion of endurance. It works all day and night without ever getting tired or sore.The surface of your tongue is covered in tiny bumps called papillae. These bumps hold your taste buds, which send flavor signals to your brain. When you eat, your tongue also acts like a clever machine. It rolls food into a ball called a bolus and pushes it perfectly into your throat so you can swallow safely.