Parotid Gland Flashcards
Type
Largest salivary gland
Shape
Wedge shaped
Site
Lies in depression between mandible ramus and mastoid process
Extent
- Forwards: over masseter
- Backwards: over part of sternomastoid
- Upwards: external auditory meatus
- Downwards: 2cm below and behind mandible angle
Parotid fascia
Capsule of deep cervical fascia enclosing gland
Parts
- Main superficial part
- Deep part
- Small accessory part
Main superficial part
Wedged between
1. Anterior: mandible ramus
2. Posterior: mastoid process and sternomastoid
Deep part
Deep to mandible
Small accessory part
Above parotid duct on masseter
Surfaces
- Lateral surface
- Anteromedial surface
- Posteromedial surface
Lateral surface contents
- Skin
- Fascia
- Great auricular nerve
- Superficial parotid lymph nodes
Anteromedial surface contents and shape
Extremely concave
1. Ramus of mandible
2. Masseter muscle
3. Medial pterygoid muscle
Posteromedial surface processes (2)
- Matoid
- Styloid
Posteromedial surface muscles attached to mastoid process (2)
- Superficially: Sternomastoid
- Deeply: posterior belly digastric
Posteromedial surface attached to styloid process
3 muscles and 2 ligaments
Posteromedial surface blood vessels (2)
- ICA
- IJV
With last 4 cranial nerves in between
2 structures enter Posteromedial surface
- Facial nerve
- ECA
Ends
- Upper end
- Lower end
Upper end shape and relation
Concave
Related to external auditory meatus