A gland consists of specialized type of cells, wherein they produce products which are used elsewhere in the body. Salivary glands are complex, tubulo acinar, exocrine or merocrine glands secreting mainly saliva. Saliva is the product of the major and minor salivary gland dispersed throughout the oral cavity It is a complex mixture of organic, inorganic components and water, carrying out several functions There are three pairs of major salivary glands namely parotid, sub mandibular and sublingual glands in addition to numerous minor salivary glands in the oral cavity

1. GROSS ANATOMY
OF THE PAROTID
GLAND PART 1
By
OBAJE GODWIN SUNDAY
Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic
Medical Sciences, Alex Ekwueme Federal
University Ndufu Alike Ikwo, Ebonyi State,
Nigeria,
+2348068638121, obaje199@gmail.com

2. What a gland is……….
A gland consists of specialized type of cells, wherein they produce products which are
used elsewhere in the body. Salivary glands are complex, tubulo acinar, exocrine or
merocrine glands secreting mainly saliva.

3. What a gland is cont’d……….
• Saliva is the product of the major and minor salivary gland dispersed throughout
the oral cavity
• It is a complex mixture of organic, inorganic components and water, carrying out
several functions
• There are three pairs of major salivary glands namely parotid, sub mandibular and
sublingual glands in addition to numerous minor salivary glands in the oral cavity

4. Gross anatomy of parotid gland
Introduction
Parotid gland is wrapped
around the mandibular
ramus and extends to a
position anterior and inferior
to the ear within
the parotid space.
ECA
It has superficial and deep
lobes.
The ECA forms its two
terminal branches within the
parotid gland: maxillary and
superficial temporal artery
Definition
Parotid gland is the largest
of the salivary glands and
secretes saliva via
the parotid duct into the
oral cavity to facilitate
mastication and swallowing.
It is located in the parotid
space.

5. Gross anatomy of parotid gland cont’d
Structures passing…
The facial nerve and its
branches pass through the
parotid gland, as does
the external carotid artery
(ECA) and retromandibular
vein. There is moderate fatty
infiltration or fatty
replacement of the parotid
glands with age
Lymph nodes
The gland usually contains
several intraparotid lymph
nodes. These are typically
situated in two locations
within the gland. These
lymph nodes are the first
station of lymphatic
drainage of the skin of the
pinna and peri-auricular
skin.
Fibrous capsule
The fibrous capsule
surrounds the gland: formed
by the split layers of the
investing layer (deep
cervical fascia). Posteriorly
this fascia condenses
forming the stylomandibular
ligament. The inferior
projection of the parotid is
often referred to as the "tail"
which overlies the angle of
the mandible.

6. Gross anatomy of parotid gland cont’d
Poles
Superior pole: external
acoustic
meatus, temporomandibular
joint
Lower pole: behind the
angle of the mandible,
anterior to
the sternocleidomastoid and
posterior belly of
the digastric
Surfaces
Lateral surface:
subcutaneous tissue
anterior surface: the ramus
of the mandible with
the masseter on its outer
surface and medial
pterygoid on its inner
surface inferiorly (separated
by the stylomandibular
ligament)
Anterior border
Masseter, the parotid duct and
5 facial nerve branches.
Sternocleidomastoid and
posterior belly of
the digastric), styloid
process and its attached
muscles
(stylohyoid, styloglossus, stylop
haryngeus) and two ligaments
(stylomandibular, stylohyoid)

7. Gross anatomy of parotid gland cont’d
Blood supply
arterial: ECA and a specific
branch of the artery,
the transverse facial artery
venous drainage: plexus of
veins into the internal
jugular vein
Lymphatic drainage
Intra-parotid nodes drain
into the deep cervical
chain.
Innervation
sensory: auriculotemporal
nerve, greater auricular
nerve
parasympathetic: via
auriculotemporal nerve
sympathetic: via plexus
surrounding external carotid
artery from superior cervical
ganglion.

8. Gross anatomy of parotid gland cont’d
Cranial nerves
passing Parotid gland
Sensory innervation is
supplied by the
auriculotemporal nerve
(gland) and the great
auricular nerve (fascia).
The parasympathetic innerv
ation to the parotid gland
has a complex path. It
begins with
the glossopharyngeal nerve
(cranial nerve IX)
Stones
The most
common cause of swollen sa
livary glands, salivary stones
are buildups of crystallized
saliva deposits. Sometimes
salivary stones can block the
flow of saliva. When saliva
can't exit through the ducts,
it backs up into
the gland, causing pain
and swelling
Drugs for parotiditis
Staphylococcus aureus is the
most common organism in
community-acquired
parotitis and first-
line antibiotic
therapy should include
antistaphylococcal antibiotic
(nafcillin, oxacillin, cefazolin)

9. Parotid duct
 The parotid duct or Stensen duct is
a duct and the route that saliva takes from
the major salivary gland, the parotid
gland into the mouth
 The parotid duct, a long excretory duct,
emerges from the front of each gland,
superficial to the masseter muscle.
The duct pierces the buccinator muscle,
then opens into the mouth on the inner
surface of the cheek, usually opposite the
maxillary second molar

10. Parotid gland
infection
Risk factors
• Age
• Lifestyle
• Children not immunized against mumps
• Disease (HIV, Diabetes)
Clinical anatomy

11. Sialolithiasis
Refers to the formation of
concrements (sialoliths) inside the
ducts or parenchyma of salivary
glands and most commonly occurs
in the submandibular glands and
their ducts

12. The SOAR (Summer Opportunities in Anatomy
Research) program at the University of North
Texas Health Science Center provides
undergraduate students the opportunity to gain
research, education, and outreach experience in
the anatomical sciences.
Summer Opportunities in Anatomy Research