FRENULUM

From the diminutive of the Latin for a bridle, that is something that has a restraining function. For example, the frenulum of the tongue attaches it to the floor of the mouth and appears to restrain it. An unusually short lingual frenulum (tongue-tie) often worries parents. Although this frenulum has been clipped innumerable times to "free the tongue," in truth it is rarely the cause of poor eating or speech delay.