Parotid Gland

Question 1

Location

Answer 1

Overlying the mandibular ramus; anterior and inferior to the ear

Question 2

Salivary duct

Answer 2

Crosses the masseter, pierces the buccinator and drains adjacent to the 2nd upper molar tooth (Stensen’s duct)

Question 3

Structures passing through the gland

Answer 3

Facial nerve (Mnemonic: The Zebra Buggered My Cat; Temporal Zygomatic, Buccal, Mandibular, Cervical)
External carotid artery
Retromandibular vein
Auriculotemporal nerve

Question 4

Relations

Answer 4

Anterior: masseter, medial pterygoid, superficial temporal and maxillary artery, facial nerve, stylomandibular ligament
Posterior: posterior belly digastric muscle, sternocleidomastoid, stylohyoid, internal carotid artery, mastoid process, styloid process

Question 5

Arterial supply

Answer 5

Branches of external carotid artery

Question 6

Venous drainage

Answer 6

Retromandibular vein

Question 7

Lymphatic drainage

Answer 7

Deep cervical nodes

Question 8

Nerve innervation

Answer 8

Parasympathetic-Secretomotor
Sympathetic-Superior cervical ganglion
Sensory- Greater auricular nerve