the parotid gland

Question 1

what type of gland is the parotid gland

Answer 1

salivary gland - serous acini only

Question 2

where does the parotid gland lie?

Answer 2

on the lateral surface of the face on each side

passes from the external auditory hiatus inferiorly towards the mandible

Question 3

how does the parotid gland deliver saliva to the mouth?

Answer 3

the gland forms a large duct that leaves the medial side of the gland and crosses the anterior surface of master muscle and then turns to pierce buccinator and enter the mouth to release saliva at the upper second molar

Question 4

where does saliva from the parotid gland enter the mouth?

Answer 4

at the upper second molar

Question 5

what is the innervation of the parotid gland?

Answer 5

it os supplied w/ parasympathetic secretomotor innervation by the glossopharylgeal nerve (CN9)

Question 6

which nerve passes through the parotid gland?

Answer 6

the facial nerve

Question 7

explain the course of the facial nerve

Answer 7

it exits the skull via the stylomastoid formamen and passes into the parotid gland

it divides into a superficial and deep part before dividing into branches that leave the gland and pass across the face to supply the muscles of facial expression

Question 8

what are the branches of the facial nerve?

Answer 8

temporal
zygomatic
buccal
marginal mandibular
cervical
posterior auricular

Question 9

explain the course of posterior auricular nerve

Answer 9

it is a branch of the facial nerve that passes posterior the auricle to supply the posterior belly of occipitofrontalis (a muscle of the scalp that is also classed as a muscle of facial expression)

Question 10

what are the 2 vessels that lie w/in the parotid gland?

Answer 10

the superficial temporal vein
the external carotid artery

Question 11

where does the superficial temporal vein drain?

Answer 11

the scalp

Question 12

what vein does the superficial temporal vein join in the parotid gland and what vein does this form?

Answer 12

superficial temporal vein joins w/ the maxillary vein to from the retromandibular vein which will then later contribute to the external jugular vein

Question 13

what happens to the external carotid artery as it enters the parotid gland?

Answer 13

it divides to form its temporal branches

Question 14

what are the temporal branches of the external carotid artery?

Answer 14

the superficial temporal artery
the maxillary artery

Question 15

where does the superficial temporal artery supply?

Answer 15

the scalp

Question 16

where does the maxillary artery pass into?

Answer 16

the infra temporal fossa

Question 17

what is the deepest structure w/in the parotid gland?

Answer 17

the auricular temporal nerve

Question 18

what is the auricular temporal nerve a branch of?

Answer 18

the trigemnal nerve

Question 19

how does the glossopharyngeal nerve supply the parotid gland when the glossopharyngeal nerve doesn’t actually pass onto the face?

Answer 19

parasympathetic innervation to the parotid gland “hitches a lift” w/ the trigeminal nerve

Question 20

explain how to trigeminal nerve carries parasympathetic innervation to the parotid gland

Answer 20

the glossopharyngeal nerve exits the skull via the jugular foramen and as it does this some pre ganglionic parasympathetic nerve fibres leave the main part of the nerve to form a tympanic part that passes into a plexus in the middle ear

from this plexus a nerve called the lesser petrosal nerve joins a structure called the oticganglion that lies at the opening of the foramen ovale. in this ganglion the preganglionic nerves which are then carried by the auricular temporal nerve to the parotid gland

Question 21

explain the lymphatic drainage of the parotid gland

Answer 21

the parotid gland has lymph nodes that drain the gland and parts of the forehead and orbital region