Sublingual Gland Flashcards

Explore the sublingual gland's position in the floor of the mouth, duct openings, anatomical relations, secretory tissue, and nerve supply.

Card 1 of 26Question

What is the sublingual gland?

The smallest of the three paired major salivary glands, producing predominantly mucous saliva.

In This Section

1. What is the sublingual gland?

The smallest of the three paired major salivary glands, producing predominantly mucous saliva.

2. Where is the sublingual gland located?

In the anterior floor of the mouth, beneath the oral mucosa and lateral to the tongue.

3. Which muscle forms the muscular floor beneath the sublingual gland?

The mylohyoid muscle.

4. Which muscle lies medial to the sublingual gland?

The genioglossus muscle, with the hyoglossus contributing to its posteromedial relations.

5. Which bony structure lies lateral to the sublingual gland?

The sublingual fossa on the internal surface of the mandible.

6. What is the sublingual fold?

A longitudinal mucosal elevation in the floor of the mouth overlying the sublingual gland.

7. What are the ducts of Rivinus?

Multiple small excretory ducts that drain the sublingual gland into the floor of the mouth.

8. Where do the ducts of Rivinus usually open?

Along the sublingual fold in the floor of the oral cavity.

9. What is the major sublingual duct of Bartholin?

A variable larger duct that may drain part of the sublingual gland into the submandibular duct or near its opening.

10. Which major salivary gland lies posterior to the sublingual gland?

The submandibular gland, particularly its deep part.

11. What is the relationship of the submandibular duct to the sublingual gland?

The submandibular duct passes forward along the medial aspect of the sublingual gland.

12. Which cranial nerve provides preganglionic parasympathetic fibers to the sublingual gland?

The facial nerve (cranial nerve VII).

13. Which branch of the facial nerve carries parasympathetic fibers destined for the sublingual gland?

The chorda tympani nerve.

14. Which trigeminal nerve branch carries preganglionic parasympathetic fibers toward the submandibular ganglion?

The lingual nerve, a branch of the mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve.

15. Where do parasympathetic fibers supplying the sublingual gland synapse?

In the submandibular ganglion.

16. How do postganglionic parasympathetic fibers reach the sublingual gland?

They travel from the submandibular ganglion, partly through branches accompanying the lingual nerve.

17. Where do sympathetic fibers supplying the sublingual gland originate?

The superior cervical ganglion, reaching the gland through periarterial nerve plexuses.

18. Which nerve provides general sensory innervation to the sublingual region?

The lingual nerve, a branch of the mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve.

19. Which arteries supply the sublingual gland?

The sublingual artery from the lingual artery and the submental artery from the facial artery.

20. Where does venous blood from the sublingual gland primarily drain?

Into tributaries of the lingual and facial venous systems.

21. Which lymph nodes primarily receive lymphatic drainage from the sublingual gland?

The submandibular lymph nodes, with subsequent drainage to the deep cervical nodes.

22. Which secretory cell type predominates in the sublingual gland?

Mucous secretory cells.

23. What are serous demilunes in sublingual gland histology?

Crescent-shaped groups of serous cells seen at the periphery of mucous secretory units in conventional histological preparations.

24. How does the duct system of the sublingual gland differ from that of the parotid gland?

The sublingual gland has relatively poorly developed intercalated and striated ducts.

25. What is a ranula?

A mucus-filled lesion in the floor of the mouth, usually arising from leakage of sublingual gland secretions.

26. What is a plunging ranula?

A ranula that extends from the sublingual space into the neck, usually through or around the mylohyoid muscle.