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
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:
RELATONS
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. Pterygoid 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, o
ccipitalis intrinsic muscle behind auricle)
Digastric branch and stylohyoid branch
PAROTID GLAND:
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
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