Contents?
Usually a collection of saliva.
← All explanationsRanula
What can a soft swelling beneath the tongue be?
A ranula is a saliva-filled swelling in the floor of the mouth, often related to the sublingual salivary gland. It may appear bluish and cause little pain. Other conditions can look similar, so a new swelling beneath the tongue needs examination.
For training & practice ↓
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Choose a view
Saliva in the wrong place
Escaped saliva can collect in tissue. A ranula is not the same as a salivary stone.
Check the extent
Some swellings remain in the mouth floor; others extend deeper into the neck. Examination and, where needed, imaging clarify the extent.
Weigh management options
Observation or a procedure may be considered depending on findings. Recurrent changes also prompt consideration of the involved gland.
Read the full explanation
Saliva in the wrong place
Escaped saliva can collect in tissue. A ranula is not the same as a salivary stone.
Check the extent
Some swellings remain in the mouth floor; others extend deeper into the neck. Examination and, where needed, imaging clarify the extent.
Weigh management options
Observation or a procedure may be considered depending on findings. Recurrent changes also prompt consideration of the involved gland.
Notes on the teaching images
- Anatomical orientation at the floor of the mouth; no ranula or swelling is depicted.
- Salivary-gland reference; the location and extent of a swelling need examination.
- Symbolic image: management depends on findings and course. Do not open it yourself.
At a glance
Diagnosis from a photo?
Not reliable.
With breathlessness?
Call 112 immediately.
Knowledge in motion
Explained in 36 seconds.
Three steps. No audio.
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Silent educational film with German on-screen text and simplified teaching images. Not a patient case or a promised treatment outcome. The full English explanation is available as text.
Often confused
Ranula and mucocele
Both terms concern saliva collections. Ranula particularly describes the mouth-floor lesion; a swelling on the lip is different.
Quick answers
Can I open the swelling myself?
No. Do not puncture, squeeze or apply heat. This does not establish the cause and can cause injury.
Is it fine if it becomes smaller?
A recurrent or unexplained swelling still needs assessment. Size and pain alone do not establish its cause.
When is immediate help needed?
Call 112 for breathing difficulty or rapidly increasing swelling with swallowing problems. Significant new swallowing difficulty or rapid growth also needs same-day medical assessment even without breathlessness.
At the practice
For a personal discussion
Editorially suggested question to discuss with Dr Niusha Barahmand Pour:
Where is the swelling coming from, and is specialist assessment needed?
Have new swelling under the tongue assessed. For breathlessness or rapid swelling with swallowing difficulty, call 112 immediately rather than waiting for online booking.
Call the practice · 0221 669 401 80Telephone contactLearning layer for training & practiceUnderstand terminology and deepen knowledge
- Floor of the mouth
- The area beneath the tongue.
- Sublingual gland
- A salivary gland beneath the tongue.
- Plunging ranula
- A ranula extending into deeper neck spaces.
Make the distinction
Both terms concern saliva collections. Ranula particularly describes the mouth-floor lesion; a swelling on the lip is different.
Sources and context
Editorial research: . General information, not an individual diagnosis or treatment recommendation. Teaching illustrations are simplified and do not depict a patient case.