For some reason this thread reminded me of many years ago. I was brushing my teeth one morning, and I always scrub my tongue off good while I'm at it. I had my tongue stuck way out, when I noticed these terrible looking bumps on the back of my tongue. I freaked out, and made an appointment with the doctor. When I got to the doc's I explained the situation, and he put a tongue depressor in my mouth and told me to say 'ah.' His next words would haunt me all the days of my life - "Those are your taste buds. Try not sticking your tongue out so far."
Glad it was nothing serious.
O'h, how I hate those tongue depressors. They ought to call them Gag sticks!!!!