Salivary Glands

Question 1

What is the anatomical location of the parotid salivary gland?

Answer 1

Extends from the zygomatic arch to the angle of the mandible anterior to the ear. Two lobes, superficial and deep. Superficial lobe is subcutaneous, anterior to external ear, between skin and masseter. Deep lobe is inferior to external ear, posterior to mandibular ramus

Question 2

Parotid duct? location?

Answer 2

parotid/stensons duct, about 5cm long, superficial to masseter muscle. pierce the buccinator and opens on the buccal mucosa, usually opposite maxillary 2nd molar. parotid papilla marks the opening of the duct.

Question 3

What does the parotid gland enclose? (4)

Answer 3

Facial Nerve
External Carotid Artery
Auriculotemporal Nerve
Retromandibular Vein

Question 4

What is the parotid gland?

Answer 4

An exocrine gland. The largest salivary gland, encapsulated, and produces serous fluid. Has two lobes, superficial and deep. Provides 25% of total salivary volume

Question 5

What is the arterial and venous supply/return of the parotid gland?

Answer 5

Arterial supply - external carotid artery
Venous return - retromandibular vein

Question 6

What is the nerve supply for the parotid gland? Parasympathetic, sympathetic, and sensory.

Answer 6

Parasympathetic - Glossopharyngeal N (CN XI)
Sympathetic - superficial cervical ganglion
Sensory - Auriculotemporal N

Question 7

What is the lymphatic drainage for the parotid gland?

Answer 7

Deep parotid LN, then deep cervical LN

Question 8

What is the submandibular salivary gland?

Answer 8

An exocrine gland, second largest, encapsulated, produces both serous and mucous fluid (mixed). Has two lobes, superficial and deep. Provides 65% of total salivary volume

Question 9

What is the anatomical location of the submandibular salivary gland?

Answer 9

Posterior part of floor of mouth, near angle of mandible, occupies submandibular fossa. Two lobes, superficial and deep. Superficial lies superficial to the mylohyoid muscle. Deep wraps around the posterior border of the mylohyoid muscle, lies on the floor of the mouth

Question 10

Submandibular duct? location?

Answer 10

Submandibular/whartons duct, arises from deep lobe, runs forward above the mylohyoid m to reach floor of mouth, sublingual caruncle marks the orifice (beside base of lingual frenum)
The lingual nerve loops under this duct (clinical importance)

Question 11

Arterial and venous supply/return of the submandibular salivary gland?

Answer 11

Arterial supply - facial A
Venous return - facial V

Question 12

Nerve supply of submandibular gland? Parasympathetic, sympathetic, and sensory.

Answer 12

parasympathetic - facial N
sympathetic -superficial cervical ganglion
sensory - lingual N

Question 13

Lymphatic drainage of the submandibular gland?

Answer 13

submandibular LN

Question 14

What is the sublingual salivary gland?

Answer 14

an exocrine gland, smallest salivary gland, unencapsulated and mixed, produces mainly mucous fluid, produces 5-10% total salivary volume.

Question 15

Anatomical location of the sublingual salivary gland?

Answer 15

lies underneath the tongue and occupies the sublingual fossa, between oral mucosa and the mylohyoid muscle.

Question 16

Arterial and venous supply/return for sublingual gland?

Answer 16

Arterial supply - sublingual artery
Venous return - sublingual vein

Question 17

Nerve supply for sublingual gland? parasympathetic, sympathetic and sensory.

Answer 17

parasympathetic - facial N
sympathetic - superficial cervical ganglion
sensory - lingual N

Question 18

Lymphatic drainage for sublingual gland?

Answer 18

submandibular LN

Question 19

Sublingual duct? location?

Answer 19

sublingual/bartholins duct - opens through sublingual caruncle/papilla
rivinus ducts - row of small ducts that open into sublingual fold (under the tongue)

Question 20

What is a condition that affects the parotid salivary gland?

Answer 20

Mumps/Parotitis (inflamation), caused by a viral infection, usually bilateral. prevention- vaccination
Tumors, usually unilateral, can lead to facial paralysis.

Question 21

What is a condition of the submandibular salivary gland?

Answer 21

salivary calculus (within the gland or inside the duct)
mealtime syndrome - pain and swelling of the gland when salivary flow is stimulated eg thought/sight/smell/taste of food or with hunger or chewing.

Question 22

What is a condition of the sublingual salivary gland?

Answer 22

Ranula, a cyst that forms due to a blocked gland.

Question 23

why and how do we examine the parotid salivary gland

Answer 23

To determine signs of infection, blockage or lesions. to make accurate clinical decisions.
E/O visually and palpation. palpate bilaterally, start anterior to each ear, move fingers to cheek area, then inferior to the angle of the mandible
I/O examine parotid papilla

Question 24

how and why do we examine the submandibular salivary gland

Answer 24

E/O palpate bilaterally when patient lowers the head- inferior and posterior to the body of the mandible
Why, to determine signs of infection, blockages or lesions

Question 25

how to examine sublingual salivary gland

Answer 25

palpate on floor of mouth posterior to each mandibular canine, place one finger intra-orally, fingers of other hand extra-orally. gland can be palpated between the fingers.