The dorsal lingual veins are some of the

lingual veins The lingual veins are veins of the tongue with two distinct courses: one group drains into the lingual vein, while another group drains either into the lingual artery, (common) facial vein, or internal jugular vein. Clinical significance The ...

. They provide venous drainage to the dorsum of the tongue, and the sides of the tongue. Between the

hyoglossus The hyoglossus is a thin and quadrilateral extrinsic muscle of the tongue. It originates from the hyoid bone; it inserts onto the side of the tongue. It is innervated by the hypoglossal nerve (cranial nerve XII). It acts to depress and retract th ...

and

genioglossus The genioglossus is one of the paired extrinsic muscles of the tongue. It is a fan-shaped muscle that comprises the bulk of the body of the tongue. It arises from the mental spine of the mandible; it inserts onto the hyoid bone, and the bottom o ...

, dorsal lingual veins unite with those lingual veins that are

venae comitantes Vena comitans (Latin for accompanying vein, also known as a satellite vein) refers to a vein that is usually paired, with both veins lying on the sides of an artery. Because they are generally found in pairs, they are often referred to by their ...

of the

lingual artery The lingual artery arises from the external carotid artery between the superior thyroid artery and facial artery. It can be located easily in the tongue. Structure The lingual artery first branches off from the external carotid artery. It runs ...

; these consolidated lingual veins then empty into the

internal jugular vein The internal jugular vein is a paired jugular vein that collects blood from the brain and the superficial parts of the face and neck. This vein runs in the carotid sheath with the common carotid artery and vagus nerve. It begins in the posteri ...

proximal to the greater cornu of hyoid bone.

References

Veins of the head and neck {{circulatory-stub