Anatomy of parotid gland

1. -Swarneet Kakpure

2.  Largest Salivery gland
 Weight-about 15g.
 Situated below
external acoustic
meatus, between
ramus of mandible
and
sternocleidomastoid

3. The gland resembles 3 sided pyramid
The apex of pyramid is directed
downwards.

4. 4 surfaces
 superior(base of
pyramid)
 Superficial
 Anteromedial
 Posteromedial
3 borders
 Anterior
 Posterior
 medial

5. Parts
1) Apex
2) Base
3) Superficial
4) Anteromedial
5) Posteromedial

6. Apex-
It Overlaps posterior belly of diagastric.
Structures passing thro’-
1. Cervical branch of facial nerve
2. Divisions of retromandibular veins

7.  Concave in shape
 Related to-
 external acoustic meatus
 Superficial temporal
vessels
 Auriculotemporal
nerve

9. Largest of all surfaces
Covered with
 skin
 superficial fascia
 the parotid fascia
 parotid lymph nodes

10.  Grooved by posterior
border of ramus of
mandible.
 Related to
 Massator
 Lateral surface of TMJ
 The medial pterygoid
 Emerging branches of
facial nerve.

11.  Related to
 The mastoid process with
sternocleidomastoid &
posterior belly of
diagastric.
 Styloid process
 Ext.carotid artery enters
the gland thro this
surface.

12.  Anterior border
 Foll.structures
emerge at this
border
1) The parotid duct
2) Terminal
branches of facial
nerve
3) Transverse facial
vessels

13.  Posterior border
 Seperates superficial
surface from posteromedial
surface.
 Emerging structures,
1. Post. auricular branch of
facial nerve
2. Post. auricular vessels

14. The facial nerve-gives rise to five terminal
branches within the parotid gland. These
branches innervate the muscles of facial
expression.

15. External carotid artery-ascends through
the parotid gland. Within the gland, the
ECA gives rise to the posterior auricular
artery. The ECA then divides into its two
terminal branches – the maxillary artery
and superficial temporal artery.

16. Retromandibular vein-is formed within the
parotid gland by the convergence of the
superficial temporal and maxillary veins. It
is one of the major structures responsible
for venous drainage of the face.

17. Arterial - External carotid artery &
branches.
Venous- to external jugular vein

18. Parasympathetic nerves(secretomotor)-
reach gland thro Auriculotemporal nerve.
Sympathetic nerves(vasomotor)-are
derived from plexus around external
carotid artery.
Sensory nerves-to the gland come from
auriculotemporal nerve.

20. Lymph drains first to parotid nodes and
from there to upper deep cervical nodes.