Sublingual gland
The sublingual gland is a seromucous polystomatic exocrine gland. Located underneath the oral diaphragm, the sublingual gland is the smallest and most diffuse of the three major salivary glands of the oral cavity, with the other two being the submandibular and parotid. The sublingual gland provides approximately 3-5% of the total salivary volume.
Structure
The sublingual glands are located anterior and superior to the submandibular gland and inferior and lateral to the tongue, as well as inferior to the mucous membrane of the floor of the mouth. They are bound laterally by the bone of the mandible and inferolaterally by the mylohyoid muscle. The glands can be palpated posteriorly to each mandibular canine. Placing one index finger within the mouth and the fingertips of the opposite hand outside it, the compressed gland is manually palpated between the inner and outer fingers.The sublingual gland is constituted by 1 major duct and approximately 20 small excretory ducts, with the latter often being referred to as ducts of Rivinus. The largest of all, the sublingual duct joins the submandibular duct to drain through the sublingual caruncle. The sublingual caruncle is a small papilla near the midline of the floor of the mouth on each side of the lingual frenum. Most of the remaining small sublingual ducts open separate into the mouth on an elevated crest of mucous membrane, the plica sublingualis, formed by the gland and located on either side of the frenulum linguae. [file: Sobo 1906 350.png|thumb|270px|Drawing of an open mouth showing the frenulum linguae and surrounding structures]