Anatomy of Salivary Glands
131
SECTION I
Lobes of the Parotid Gland
The gland has multiple projections called lobes (Fig.
7.5) which are named according to their location:
1. Glenoid lobe
2. Pterygoid lobe
3. Carotid lobe
4. Socia parotidis
Parotid Duct (Ductus Parotideus)
It is the excretory duct of the parotid gland measur-
ing about 4–6 cm in length and 5 mm in diameter.
It is also known as Stensen’s duct. It lies midway
between the zygomatic arch and the corner of the
mouth along a line between the upper lip philtrum
and the tragus (Fig. 7.3). The duct originates at
the anterior border of the parotid and parallels the
zygomatic arch, runs on the masseter, winds around
the anterior margin of the masseter and opens lat-
eral to the second upper molar tooth. Before it opens
into the oral cavity, it pierces through the buccal fat
pad, the buccopharyngeal fascia and the buccinator
muscle. It runs obliquely through the buccinator
which avoids inflation of the duct while blowing the
mouth. The duct opens intraorally on the inner sur-
face of the cheek. A small mucosal elevation called
parotid papilla (
papilla ductus parotidei
) identifies
this opening. The diameter of the parotid duct is
smaller at the opening when compared with the di-
ameter elsewhere in the duct.
Posterior belly of digastric
Sternomastoid
Mastoid
Facial nerve
Lymph nodes
Internal jugular vein
Parotid
External carotid artery
Subcutaneous tissue
Mandible
Masseter
Buccinator
Parotid duct
Vertebra
Styloid process
Parapharyngeal space
Carotid sheath with vessels
Fascia from styloid to tensor palati
Medial pterygoid
PMS
Po SS
Pr SS
Pterygomandibular space
with inferior alveolar nerve and artery
RPS
Figure 7.4
Axial section of parotid gland. PMS, pharyngeal mucosal space; Po SS, post-styloid space; Pr SS, post-styloid
space; RPS, retropharyngeal space.
Figure 7.5
Lobes of parotid.
Accessory parotid
Parotid duct
Pterygoid lobe
Masseter
External carotid artery
External acoustic meatus
Glenoid lobe
Parotid
Carotid lobe
Sternomastoid
Digastric
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