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The parotid
gland is the largest of the salivary glands that produce saliva that is important
in the digestion of food. The gland lies under the angle of the jaw just beneath
the ear. Surgery of the parotid gland may become necessary in the presence of
infection and tumor. Of historical interest is that surgery on the parotid gland
was the first operation to be performed under ether gas anesthesia in Boston
in 1846. Anatomy
and Physiology
- The parotid
gland is shaped like an upside-down triangle and lies in front and below the
opening to the ear canal (Figure 1). In front of the gland is the posterior
(back) surface of the jawbone and the masseter muscle (the muscle felt on
the side of the jaw when the teeth are clenched). The deep surface of the
gland lies alongside the back of the throat, near the tonsils. Normally, the
parotid gland cannot be felt
- The facial
nerve divides the gland into a superficial and deep lobe (Figures1 and 2).
The facial nerve supplies all of the muscles that move the face. It arises
in the skull and then exits through a small opening behind the parotid gland.
It then enters the parotid, runs through it, and divides to supply the muscles
of the face
- The parotid
gland helps in the secretion of saliva, which is necessary for the proper
digestion of food. Saliva drains through a small duct from the front of the
parotid gland and empties into the mouth near the upper second molar tooth
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| Figure
1 - The parotid gland lies in front and below the ear. The superficial lobe
of the parotid gland lies outside the mandible (jawbone) while the deep
lobe wraps around the back angle of the mandible. The most common incision
is represented by the continuous line and possible extensions are indicated
by the dotted lines. © C. McKee | Figure
2 - The parotid lies on the masseter muscle that clenches the jaw. It lies
in front of the sternomastoid muscle that turns the head to the opposite
side. The facial nerve divides the parotid gland into superficial and deep
lobes. The parotid duct delivers saliva from the gland into the mouth. ©
C. McKee |
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