sublinguaal

Sublingual refers to the area beneath the tongue and is used in both anatomy and pharmacology. The term is derived from Latin sublingualis, from sub- meaning “under” and lingua meaning “tongue.” In medical contexts, it describes structures located under the tongue as well as routes of drug administration designed to take place there.

Anatomically, the sublingual gland is one of the three major salivary glands. It sits in the floor of the mouth, beneath the mucous membrane and near the inner surface of the mandible. The gland produces a mucus-rich saliva and releases it through ducts that open into the mouth along the sublingual fold. The main duct is the Bartholin’s duct (the major sublingual duct), supplemented by numerous smaller Rivinus ducts.

Pharmacologically, sublingual administration involves placing a drug under the tongue, where it dissolves and is absorbed through the highly vascularized oral mucosa directly into the systemic circulation. This route bypasses the gastrointestinal tract and hepatic first-pass metabolism, enabling a rapid onset of action. It is well suited for potent, fast-acting medications that should avoid digestion or poor GI stability, and for patients who cannot swallow.

Common sublingual therapies include nitroglycerin tablets used for acute angina and certain analgesics or antiemetics formulated for sublingual absorption. Proper use requires keeping the drug under the tongue until it fully dissolves, avoiding chewing or swallowing too soon, and considering factors that affect absorption such as saliva flow, mucosal integrity, and mouth lesions.