The parotid gland is the largest salivary gland. It is located below and in front of the ear, weighing around 15g. The gland has a three-sided pyramid shape with surfaces and borders that relate to surrounding structures. It receives nerves, blood vessels and drains lymph. The parotid gland secretes saliva and is an important structure in the head and neck.

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.