Lingual frenulum
Frenulum linguae
- Synonym: Frenulum of tongue; Frenum of tongue
- Related terms: Frenulum of tongue
Definition
The lingual frenulum is a midline fold of mucous membrane on the inferior surface of the tongue that connects the undersurface of the tongue to the floor of the mouth. It helps stabilise tongue movements while still allowing considerable mobility.
On either side of the lingual frenulum are the sublingual caruncles, which contain the openings of the submandibular ducts, and the sublingual folds produced by the sublingual glands.
References
Dotiwala AK, Samra NS. Anatomy, Head and Neck, Tongue. [Updated 2023 Aug 21]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2026 Jan. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK507782/
Standring, S. (2015) Grays Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice. 41st edn. London: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier. Chapter 31, Oral cavity.
