The Sublingual Gland

The sublingual gland is a mucus secreting gland under the tongue.  These glands are paired i.e. there is one on each side. 

Function

The sublingual gland excretes saliva consisting mainly of mucus into tiny ducts that empty into the mouth under the tongue.  Saliva lubricates the mouth and throat, protects the teeth, has antibacterial properties and helps to digest food.

Problems

The commonest sublingual gland abnormality is leakage of mucus into surrounding tissues. The mucus produces a cystic swelling like a bubble in the floor of mouth where it is called a ranula (from rana, the italian word for frog), or a soft swelling in the neck under the jaw where it is known as a plunging ranula. For some reason ranulae (plural of ranula) are more common in Polynesians and for this reason Auckland has the highest incidence of ranulae of any city in the world!

Occasionally tumours develop in the sublingual gland requiring removal. A tumour appears as a firm lump under the tongue. If malignant there may also be numbness of that side of the tongue .