Parotid Gland Anatomy

Parotid Gland Anatomy

• located between the ramus of the mandible and the external auditory canal and mastoid tip, overlies the masseter muscle (anteriorly) and sternocleidomastoid muscle (posteriorly)
• facial nerve divides the parotid gland artificially into deep and superficial lobes
• the superficial layer of the deep cervical fascia forms the parotid gland fascia which incompletely surrounds the gland
• Histological Cell Type: basophilic, serous cells
• Stylomandibular Ligament: formed by the fascial envelope between the styloid process and the mandible, separates the parotid gland from the submandibular gland
• Stenson’s Duct: passes over masseter, through buccinator muscle, and opens opposite to the second upper molar (follows along plane from external auditory canal to columella and buccal branch of CN VII)



Venous Drainage
• superficial temporal vein + maxillary vein ➝ retromandibular vein
• retromandibular vein ➝ passes deep to the facial nerve ➝ anterior and posterior branches
• anterior retromandibular vein + facial vein ➝ common facial vein ➝ internal jugular vein
• posterior retromandibular vein + posterior auricular vein (over SCM) ➝ external jugular vein