Final answer:
The element associated with the tip of the tongue is the taste buds within the fungiform papillae. These papillae send signals to the brain to help perceive taste, using the facial and glossopharyngeal cranial nerves.
Step-by-step explanation:
The element that is associated with the tip of the tongue is the taste buds contained within the fungiform papillae. These papillae are mushroom-shaped structures that cover a large area of the tongue, with a higher concentration toward the rear and fewer on the tip and sides. The taste buds in these papillae are responsible for sending signals to the brain via the facial and glossopharyngeal cranial nerves, allowing us to perceive different tastes. It is interesting to note that although the fungiform papillae contain taste receptors, the filiform papillae, which are also present on the tongue's surface, do not contain taste buds but have touch receptors that help in the mechanical movement of food in the mouth.