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Encyclopedia > Parotid gland
Parotid gland
Salivary glands:

#1 is Parotid gland
#2 is Submaxillary gland
#3 is Sublingual gland
Latin glandula parotidea
Gray's subject #177 693
Nerve otic ganglion
Lymph preauricular deep parotid lymph nodes
MeSH Parotid+Gland
Dorlands/Elsevier g_06/12392553

For the toad wart, see parotoid gland. Image File history File linksMetadata Illu_quiz_hn_02. ... The salivary glands produce saliva, which keeps the mouth and other parts of the digestive system moist. ... The submandibular gland (or submaxillary gland in older references) is one of the salivary glands, responsible for producing saliva. ... The sublingual glands are salivary glands in the mouth. ... Latin is an ancient Indo-European language originally spoken in Latium, the region immediately surrounding Rome. ... Nerves (yellow) Nerves redirects here. ... The Otic Ganglion is a parasympathetic ganglion located immediately below the foramen ovale. ... In mammals including humans, the lymphatic vessels (or lymphatics) are a network of thin tubes that branch, like blood vessels, into tissues throughout the body. ... The preauricular deep parotid lymph nodes (anterior auricular glands or preauricular glands), from one to three in number, lie immediately in front of the tragus. ... Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) is a huge controlled vocabulary (or metadata system) for the purpose of indexing journal articles and books in the life sciences. ... Elseviers logo. ... The largest parotoid gland can be seen just behind the ear of this Cane Toad, although all warts on the toad are also parotoid glands. ...


The parotid gland, found wrapped around the mandibular ramus, secretes saliva through Stensen's duct into the oral cavity to facilitate mastication and swallowing. The ramus of the mandible (perpendicular portion) is quadrilateral in shape, and has two surfaces, four borders, and two processes. ... Stensens duct is another name for the duct of the parotid gland that allows saliva to drain from the parotid gland to the oral cavity. ...

Contents

Anatomy

Location

The parotid gland is the largest of the salivary glands. It is found in the subcutaneous tissue of the face, overlying the mandibular ramus and anterior and inferior to the external ear. The gland occupies the parotid fascial space, an area posterior to the mandibular ramus, anterior and inferior to the ear. The gland extends irregularly from the zygomatic arch to the angle of the mandible. This gland is effectively palpated bilaterally. Start anterior to each ear and move to the cheek area and then inferior to the angle of the mandible. (Illustrated Head and Neck Anatomy, Fehrenbach and Herring, Elsevier, 2007, p. 170-1). The salivary glands produce saliva, which keeps the mouth and other parts of the digestive system moist. ... The subcutis is the layer of tissue directly underlying the cutis. ... The face is the front part of the head, in humans from the forehead to chin including the hair, forehead, eyebrow, eyes, nose, cheek, mouth, lips, philtrum, teeth, skin, and chin. ... The ramus of the mandible (perpendicular portion) is quadrilateral in shape, and has two surfaces, four borders, and two processes. ... A left human ear. ...


The facial nerve and its branches pass through the parotid gland as do the external carotid artery and its branches. The facial nerve is seventh of twelve paired cranial nerves. ... The carotid artery is a major artery of the head and neck. ...


Excretory portion

The duct to this gland (also known as Stensen's duct) empties within the buccal cavity (the inside of the cheek) opposite the upper second molar. The parotid papilla is a small elevation of tissue that marks the opening of the parotid duct on the inner surface of the cheek (Illustrated Dental Embryology, Histology, and Anatomy, Bath-Balogh and Fehrenbach, Elsevier, 2006, p. 166). The parotid duct is also known as Stensens duct. ... A gland is an organ in an animals body that synthesizes a substance for release such as hormones, often into the bloodstream (endocrine gland) or into cavities inside the body or its outer surface (exocrine gland). ... Stensens duct is another name for the duct of the parotid gland that allows saliva to drain from the parotid gland to the oral cavity. ... Is the cavity of the mouth ...


Serous fluid (as opposed to mucous fluid) is produced by the parotid gland. In physiology, the term serous fluid is used for various bodily fluids that are typically pale yellow and transparent, and of a benign nature. ...


Innervation

Although the facial nerve (CN VII) runs through this gland, it does not control it. The facial nerve is seventh of twelve paired cranial nerves. ... Cranial nerves Cranial nerves are nerves that emerge directly from the brain in contrast to spinal nerves which emerge from segments of the spinal cord. ...


Secretion of saliva by the parotid gland is controlled by presynaptic parasympathetic fibres originating in the inferior salivatory nucleus; these leave the brain via the glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX), travel along the tympanic nerve (of Jacobson), pass through the tympanic plexus (located in the middle ear), and then travel in the lesser petrosal nerve until they reach the otic ganglion. After synapsing, the postganglionic fibers travel as part of the auriculotemporal nerve, a branch of the mandibular nerve (V3) to reach the parotid gland. Secretion is the process of segregating, elaborating, and releasing chemicals from a cell, or a secreted chemical substance or amount of substance. ... Saliva is the watery and usually somewhat frothy substance produced in the mouths of humans and some animals. ... Anatomy and Physiology of the A.N.S. In contrast to the voluntary nervous system, the involuntary or autonomic nervous system is responsible for homeostasis, maintaining a relatively constant internal environment by controlling such involuntary functions as digestion, respiration, and metabolism, and by modulating blood pressure. ... The inferior salivatory nucleus is one of the components of the glossopharyngeal nerve, which stimulates secretion from the parotid gland. ... The glossopharyngeal nerve is the ninth of twelve cranial nerves. ... The tympanic nerve (nerve of Jacobson) arises from the petrous ganglion, and ascends to the tympanic cavity through a small canal on the under surface of the petrous portion of the temporal bone on the ridge which separates the carotid canal from the jugular fossa. ... In the tympanic cavity the tympanic nerve divides into branches which form the tympanic plexus and are contained in grooves upon the surface of the promontory. ... The middle ear is the portion of the ear internal to the eardrum, and external to the oval window of the cochlea. ... The lesser petrosal nerve is a root of the otic ganglion. ... The Otic Ganglion is a parasympathetic ganglion located immediately below the foramen ovale. ... In the autonomic nervous system, fibers from the ganglion to the effector organ are called postganglionic fibers. ... The auriculotemporal nerve is a branch of the mandibular nerve that runs with the superficial temporal artery and vein, and provides sensory innervation to various regions on the side of the head. ... The mandibular nerve is the third branch (V3) of the trigeminal nerve. ...


Vascularization

Branches of the external carotid artery traverse the glandular tissue and supply the parotid gland with oxygenated blood, whereas numerous local veins drain the organ. These veins drain into tributaries of external and internal jugular veins. The carotid artery is a major artery of the head and neck. ... The external and internal jugular veins are veins that bring deoxygenated blood from the head back to the heart via the superior vena cava. ...


Lymphatics mainly comprise pre-auricular lymph nodes. The preauricular deep parotid lymph nodes (anterior auricular glands or preauricular glands), from one to three in number, lie immediately in front of the tragus. ...


Pathology

Inflammation of one or both parotid glands is known as parotitis. The most common cause of parotitis was mumps. Widespread vaccination against mumps has markedly reduced the incidence of mumps parotitis. Other infections such as bacterial infections can cause parotitis as may blockage of the duct, whether from salivary duct calculi or external compression. Stones mainly occur within the main confluence of the ducts and within the main parotid duct. The patient usually complains of intense pain when salivating and tends to avoid foods which produce this symptom. In addition the parotid gland may become enlarged upon trying to eat. The pain can be reproduced in clinic via squirting lemon juice into the patient's mouth. Surgery depends upon the situation of the stone, if within the anterior aspect of the duct a simple incision into the buccal mucosa with sphinterotomy may allow removal, however if further posterior within the main duct, complete gland excision may be necessary. Parotitis is an inflammation of one or both parotid glands. ... Salivary duct calculus is a concretion of mostly calcium mineral salts (calculus) that forms within the ducts. ...


The most common of tumors in the parotid gland are benign and only affect the superficial gland. These include pleomorphic adenoma and adenolymphoma. Their importance is in relation to their anatomical position. The tumorous growth can also change the consistency of the gland and cause facial pain on the involved side since the facial nerve travels through the gland (Illustrated Head and Neck Anatomy, Fehrenbach and Herring, Elsevier, 2007, p. 172). Critically, the relationship of the tumor to the branches of the facial nerve (CN VII) must be defined because resection may damage the nerves, resulting in paralysis of the muscles of facial expression. If the tumor is deep within the gland, the patient should give consent for potential damage of the facial nerve. Pleomorphic adenoma is the most common type of parotid gland tumor. ... The facial nerve is seventh of twelve paired cranial nerves. ... Cranial nerves are nerves which start directly from the brainstem instead of the spinal cord. ...


Additional images

External links


  Results from FactBites:
 
Parotid Gland (Salivary Gland Tumors Treatment) - Central California Ear Nose & Throat Fresno Visalia CA. (1329 words)
If a tumor of the parotid gland is suspected by you or your primary care doctor, you should be seen by an Ear, Nose, and Throat surgeon.
The amount of parotid gland to be removed is often determined at the time of surgery based on the size and location of the tumor or diseased portion of the gland.
Most superficial tumors are treated with removal of the superficial lobe of the parotid gland (i.e.: the portion of the gland situated superficial to the course of the facial nerve).
LitSubPg-SalGland/Parotid Over Cit #1 (8449 words)
Among salivary gland neoplasms, 80% arise in the parotid glands, 10-15% arise in the submandibular glands, and the remainder occur in the sublingual and minor salivary glands.
The parotid gland acini contain predominately serous cells, while the submandibular gland acini are mixed, containing both mucous and serous cells, and the sublingual and minor salivary glands have predominately mucous acini.
They are encapsulated glands located anterior and inferior to the angle of the mandible in the submandibular triangle formed from the anterior and posterior bellies of the digastric muscle and the inferior border of the mandible.
  More results at FactBites »


 

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