Parotid gland Flashcards
Which gland is the largest salivary gland
Parotid gland
Situation of the parotid gland
It is situated below the external
acoustic meatus
behind the ramus of the mandible
and in front of the sternocleidomastoid.
The parotid gland is
enclosed within a fascial
sheath called
Parotid sheath
Parotid sheath is formed by
Investing layer of deep cervical fascia
Skin over parotid gland is supplied by
great auricular nerve
The parotid gland overlaps what muscle anteriorly
the masseter
What separates the parotid gland from the submandibular gland
Stylomandibular ligament
The parotid gland is
divided into
deep and
superficial lobes
What part is located
between the zygomatic
arch and the parotid duct
accessory parotid gland- it is separated from the gland
Parotid fascia or sheath is also called
parotid capsule
The investing layer of the deep cervical fascia splits into 2 parts, what are they
Parotid fascia- superficial to parotid gland
stylomandibular ligament- deep to parotid gland
Is the parotid gland a paired gland
Yes
It is situated on both sides of the face
Shape of the parotid gland
resembles a 3-sided pyramid or it is triangle in shape
The attachments of the
parotid fascia
anterior : zygomatic arch
Posterior: styloid process
Inferior: stylomandibular
ligament
Parotid gland has 4 surfaces, list them
a. Superior (base of the pyramid)
b. Superficial
c. Anteromedial
d. Posteromedial
The surfaces of the parotid gland are separated by 3 borders, list them
a. Anterior
b. Posterior
c. Medial
Boundaries of parotid gland
superiorly: zygomatic
arch
inferiorly: base of the
mandible
anteriorly: masseter
muscle
Posteriorly: External ear,
sternocleidomastoid
Structures passing through the parotid gland
Facial nerve- gives rise to 5 terminal branches
External carotid artery
Retromandibular vein
Blood supply to parotid gland
Arterial supply- external carotid
artery and its branches; Posterior auricular
artery
Superficial temporal
artery
Venous drainage- Retromandibular vein
Another name of parotid duct
Stensen duct
Course of parotid duct
It arises from the anterior
surface of the parotid gland and runs across the anterior surface of the masseter muscle
Parotid duct pierces what muscle
It pierces the buccinator
muscle
The Stensen duct
transports what
the serous saliva produced by the parotid gland
Stensen duct opens into
the mouth near the second upper molar tooth
The external carotid artery
divides into two terminal
branches
maxillary artery
superficial temporal
artery
Retromandibular vein is formed by the union of the
Superficial temporal vein
Maxillary vein
ECA gives rise to
-It gives rise to the
posterior auricular artery
NERVE SUPPLY OF THE
PAROTID GLAND
Sensory innervation
Autonomic innervation
Sensory innervation of parotid gland
Auriculotemporal nerve
(branch of mandibular nerve)
Great auricular nerve
Autonomic innervation of parotid gland
Parasympathetic innervation: Glossopharyngeal nerve via the auriculotemporal nerve
Sympathetic innervation-Superior cervical ganglion
Lymphatic drainage of parotid gland
Superior deep cervical lymph nodes
Clinical correlates
A parotid abscess may be caused by spread of
infection from the opening of parotid duct in the
mouth cavity
Parotidectomy is the removal of the parotid gland
