sublingual vein

The sublingual vein is a vein that drains blood from the undersurface of the tongue and the sublingual glands, serving as a tributary of the lingual vein.

The sublingual vein is located on the ventral (inferior) surface of the tongue and in the floor of the mouth, running alongside the sublingual glands before joining the lingual vein.

The sublingual vein is involved in returning deoxygenated blood from the undersurface of the tongue and the sublingual salivary glands to the lingual venous system.

Ranula formation, sublingual gland pathology, floor of mouth infections, or venous varicosities of the tongue (caviar tongue) may be associated with the sublingual vein.

The sublingual vein may be assessed through clinical inspection of the floor of the mouth and ventral tongue, Doppler ultrasound of the sublingual region, or imaging of the oral cavity as part of head and neck evaluation.