PAROTID GLAND

           

INTRODUCTION:

parotid gland is the largest salivary gland located posterior to the mandible. through this article we will explore the anatomy of parotid gland. 

 Surfaces of parotid gland :

Antero-medial surface 

Postero-medial surface 

Anterior border 

Posterior border 

Medial edge 

Superficial surface

Features of the parotid gland :      

1. Called the queen of face 

2. largest salivary gland 

3. Weighs about 25 grams 

4. First affected by mumps  

Covering of parotid gland :

• Skin

• Investing layer of deep cervical fascia

• Anterior part of deep cervical fascia has 2 attachments

• Deep facia underlying the superficial facia is attached to the zygomatic arch 

• Deep fascia in the medial aspect is attached to the tympanic plate   

Contents of superficial facia :

1. Platysma 

2. Great auricular nerve (supplies superficial fascia )

        3. Risorius 

4. Skin 

5. Superficial facia

6. Superficial parotid lymph node 

CONTENTS OF ANTERIOMEDAL SURFACE:

 present just behind the posterior border of ramus 

1. Masseter muscle 

2. Parotid masscentric facia 

3. Lateral surface of temporomandibular joint 

4. Emerging facial nerve (note: facial nerve does not supply parotid gland ,it emerges from the                    stylomastoid foramen behind the styloid process)

5. Facial nerve anastomoses in the anteriomedial surface of parotid gland into temprofascial and                  cervicofacial nerve 

6. Exit for maxillary artery 

POSTERIOMEDIAL SURFACE OF PAROTID GLAND:

 relations

 1.mastoid process

2. Styloid process 

3. Styloglossus and stylohyoid muscle 

4. External carotid artery (pierces stylomandibular ligament and enters parotid gland) 

5. Retromandibular vein (retromandibular vein anastomoses with the common facial vein inside                  the parotid gland) 

6. Facial nerve enters

                                                          

ANTERIOR BORDER

1. parotid  duct

 2.Terminal branches of facial nerve. 

3. Accessory parotid gland

POSTERIOR BORDER:

Posterior border overlaps sternomastoid muscle 

 

Processes of parotid gland:

1. facial process 

2. Ptergoid process 

3. Glenoid process

4. Post styloid process 

ARTERIES:

External carotid artery enters parotid gland through posteromedial surface  

VENOUS DRAINAGE:

Retromandibular vein which  is a anastomotic branch of external jugular vein and common facial vein 

It he gives maxillary and superficial temporal vein  branch .hey hello it continues its course along with hey external carotid artery

 NERVE CORSE IN PAROTID GLAND:

Facial nerve enters through stylomastoid foramen

It branches at the anteromedial surface of parotid gland to give temprofacial and cervicofacial branch

NERVE THROUGH STYLOMASTOID FORAMEN

Great auricular nerve  

Posterior auricular nerve (supplies auricularis posterior, occipitalis intrinsic muscle behind auricle)

Digastric branch and stylohyoid branch

Parotid duct (aka) stemsons duct:

Thick walled and about 5 cm long, it emerges from the anterior border of parotid gland and
Runs transversely for a short distance, crosses the buccinator and enters the vestibule lamina of the oral cavity
Beside the maxillary second molar
tooth