Sublingual gland

Glandula sublingualis (Czech sublingual gland) is a paired gland that lies on the upper surface of the ``m. mylohyoideus, externally from m. geniohyoideus, m. genioglossus and m. hyoglossus''. The gland lies directly under the mucous membrane of the floor of the oral cavity and thus conditions the eyelid - ''plica subligualis'.

The gland has small ducts (ductus sublinguales minores') which open into the plica sublingualis''. A large duct (ductus sublingualis major) is often created, which opens separately or connects with the duct gl. submandibularis and opens together in the 'caruncula sublingualis'.

Histology
It is a tuboalveolar, branched and seromucinous gland. Its secretion has mainly a mucinous component. It contains mucinous tubules lined with mucinous cells ending in Gianuzzi's lunulae. There are no inserted outlets here, we only find very short annealed ones.

Topography and Syntopy

 * The cranial surface of the gland highlights the plica sublingualis.
 * The lateral surface of the gland faces the mandible in its fovea sublingualis.
 * The medial surface of the gland faces the extraglossal muscles.
 * The ductus submandibularis and n. lingualis.

Blood vessels and nerves

 * Arteries are branches of ACE: a. sublingualis and a. submentalis.
 * Veins drain into VJI via v. sublingualis and v. submentalis.
 * The sap drains into the nodi lymphatici parotidei, into the nodi submandibulares and then into the 'nodi cervicales profundi'.
 * Sympathetic innervation is made up of fibers that come along the arteries. Parasympathetic innervation comes from the chorda tympani (n. facialis) and n. lingualis.
 * Sensitive fibers are from n. lingualis.

Related Articles

 * Salivary glands
 * Histological preparations gl. sublingualis (SFLT)
 * Salivary Gland Diseases