Left Sublingual Gland (Glandula sublingualis sinister)
Educational content only — not medical advice.
Anatomy
The left sublingual gland is the smallest of the three major paired salivary glands, situated beneath the sublingual fold in the floor of the mouth resting against the sublingual fossa of the mandible. Predominantly mucous in secretion, it drains via 8–20 small excretory ducts (ducts of Rivinus) directly onto the sublingual fold.
Clinical notes
Ranula is a mucous extravasation pseudocyst arising from ductal obstruction of the sublingual gland, presenting as a translucent blue swelling in the floor of the mouth; plunging ranula dissects through the mylohyoid muscle into the neck.
Related structures
Educational references
FAQ
What is the role of the Left Sublingual Gland?
The left sublingual gland is the smallest of the three major paired salivary glands, situated beneath the sublingual fold in the floor of the mouth resting against the sublingual fossa of the mandible. Predominantly mucous in secretion, it drains via 8–20 small excretory ducts (ducts of Rivinus) directly onto the sublingual fold.
Why is the Left Sublingual Gland clinically important?
Ranula is a mucous extravasation pseudocyst arising from ductal obstruction of the sublingual gland, presenting as a translucent blue swelling in the floor of the mouth; plunging ranula dissects through the mylohyoid muscle into the neck.
Source & license
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