PAROTID GLAND
General features
Largest of the three salivary glands.
The salivary glands' primary function is to secrete saliva, which plays an
important role in lubrication, digestion, immunity...
It is lobulated, yellowish brown in colour and weighs about 25g.
Location: It lies in pyramidal fossa, posterior to ramus of mandible called retromandibular
fossa (parotid bed).
Boundaries
Anteriorly: posterior border of ramus of
the mandible.
Posteriorly: mastoid process.
Superiorly: External acoustic meatus
Medially : styloid process.
Muscles that lines parotid bed :
1. Ramus of the mandible - medial
pterygoid and masseter
2. Mastoid process - sternocleidomastoid
and posterior belly of digastric
3. Styloid process - styloglossus ,
stylopharyngeous, stylohyoid
Parotid capsule
• Enclosed in a capsule called parotid capsule
• Formed by tough investing layer of deep fascia
Fascia Superficial lamina
Deep lamina
Superficial lamina - Epimysium of masseter (parotidomasseteric fascia) - Zygomatic arch
Deep lamina - Stylomandibular ligament - tympanic plate
Relations
Apex
Location ; projects downwards overlapping posterior belly of digastric and part of carotid
triangle
Structures related to it ; Cervical branch of facial nerve
Anterior and posterior divisions of retromandibular vein
Base
Location; External acoustic meatus
Structures related to it; Superficial temporal vessels
Auriculotemporal nerve
Superficial surface
Structures related to it; Skin
Superficial fascia and it's lymph nodes, greater auricular nerve
Parotid fascia
Anteromedial surface
Structures related to it; Masseter
Medial pterygoid
Posterior border of ramus of mandible
Posteromedial surface
Structures related to it; Mastoid process , posterior belly of digastric, sternocleidomastoid
Styloid process and it's muscles
Anterior border
Structures related to it; Temporal branch of facial nerve
Zygomatic branch of facial nerve
Transverse facial nerve
Upper buccal branch of facial nerve
Parotid duct
Lower buccal branch of facial nerve
Marginal mandibular branch of facial nerve
Posterior border
Structures related to it; Posterior auricular vessels
Posterior auricular branch of facial nerve
Medial border
Structures related to it; Lateral wall of pharynx
Blood vessels transversing Parotid gland
Nerve supply Lymph Drainage
Superficial and deep parotid lymph
nodes
Deep cervical lymph nodes
Parotid duct
1st Bend; Runs between the upper and lower buccal branches of facial nerve - 90° - Pierces
buccinator muscle
2nd Bend; After piercing the buccinator muscle, the parotid duct runs forward, for about 1
cm between it and the buccal mucosa.
3rd bend; Finally the duct turns medially and opens into the vestibule of mouth opposite to
the 2nd molar teeth.
