Anatomy and Variations of the Sublingual Space

Abstract

The sublingual space is superomedial to mylohyoid muscle and lateral to genioglossus and geniohyoid muscles in the oral cavity. Its major contents are the sublingual salivary gland and its ducts (the major sublingual duct, Bartholin’s duct; the smaller sublingual ducts, Rivinus’s ducts), the submandibular duct (Wharton’s duct), the superior portion of the submandibular salivary gland, the lingual nerve, artery and vein, and the glossopharyngeal (IX) and hypoglossal (XII) nerves. The sublingual space communicates with the submandibular space at the posterior margin of mylohyoid muscle where there is a gap between this muscle and hyoglossus muscle. Many lesions such as ranula and submandibular duct obstruction, various malignancies, inflammation, and vascular abnormalities arise uniquely in the sublingual space. Better knowledge of the complex muscular, vascular, glandular, ductal, and neural anatomy of this region is important for accurate diagnosis and treatment planning by both general dentists and oral surgeons in order to avoid unnecessary complications. In this chapter, the normal anatomy and variations of the sublingual space are reviewed and its clinical relevance is discussed.