lingual veins lingual veins the lingual veins begin on the dorsum, sides, and under surface of the tongue, and, passing backward along the course of the lingual artery, end in the internal jugular vein. lingual veinsveins of the tongue. (lingual vein labeled at left.)detailsdrains fromtonguedrains tointernal jugular veinarterylingual arteryidentifierslatinvena lingualista98a12.3.05.009ta24807fma14326anatomical terminology the vena comitans of the hypoglossal nerve (ranine vein), a branch of considerable size, begins below the tip of the tongue, and may join the lingual; generally, however, it passes backward on the hyoglossus, and joins the common facial. the lingual veins are important clinically as they are capable of rapid absorption of drugs; for this reason, nitroglycerin is given under the tongue to patients suspected of having angina pectoris. tributaries sublingual vein deep lingual vein dorsal lingual veins suprahyoid vein