Parotid Region

Front 1

What is the parotid gland?

Back 1

The parotid gland is the largest of the salivary glands. It occupies a 3D space called the parotid bed, just beneath the skin in front of the ear.

Front 2

What is the parotid region?

Back 2

A bony, muscular and fascial-lined space beneath the skin in front of the ear.

Front 3

What are the boundaries of the parotid region?

Back 3

Posterior - mastoid process
Medial - styloid process
Anterior - medial pterygoid and masseter muscles

Front 4

What are the contents of the parotid region?

Back 4

-parotid gland
-external carotid a. and several of its branches
-external jugular v. and several of its tributaries
-parts of the facial nerve (CN VII)
-parts of the trigeminal nerve (CN V)

Front 5

What are the two parts of the parotid gland?

Back 5

-superficial part
-deep part

Front 6

What divides the parotid gland in two?

Back 6

The dividing line b/t the deep and superficial parts is indicated by the position of the facial nerve and its terminal branches.

Front 7

Describe the superficial part of the parotid gland.

Back 7

Covers most of the masseter and extends anteriorly along the parotid duct.

Front 8

Describe the deep part of the parotid gland.

Back 8

Conatins the:
-external carotid a. with several of its branches
-retromandibular v. and its tributaries
-auriculotemporal n. (a branch of CN V, the trigeminal n.)

Front 9

What is the parotid duct?

Back 9

Carries the secretions of the parotid gland, courses superficially over the masseter to pierce the buccinator muscle and open into the vestibule of the oral cavity adjacent to the second upper molar tooth.

Front 10

How is the production of saliva secretion controlled?

Back 10

By sympathetic and parasympathetic nerve stimulation.

Front 11

How do sympathetic nerve fibers affect the production of saliva?

Back 11

Stimulation of the parotid gland by sympathetic nerve fibers result in reduced saliva secretion, due to vasoconstriction of the vessels that supply the gland.

Front 12

What comprises the carotid plexus?

Back 12

Postganglionic nerve fibers.

Front 13

Where do the postganglionic nerve fibers (of the carotid plexus) go?

Back 13

Everywhere the arteries go.

Front 14

What if the preganglionic nerve fibers are injured d/t a traumatic event?

Back 14

If they are cut off, then the flow of information through the fibers is cut off and results in no sympathetic nerve supply to one side of the head. (Ex. Horner's syndrome)

Front 15

What is Horner's syndrome?

Back 15

With Horner's syndrome, the upper eyelid cannot be raised voluntarily. If the cervical sympathetic trunk is interrupted, the superior tarsal muscle is paralyzed, which causes drooping of the eyelid (ptosis). This is a sign of cervical sympathetic trunk injury.

Front 16

How do parasympathetic nerve fibers affect the production of saliva?

Back 16

Stimulation of the parotid gland by parasympathetic nerve fibers in the glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX) results in increased salivary production.

Front 17

What happens if there is edema in the parotid gland?

Back 17

The parotid gland is covered by dense connective tissue that does not allow for much expansion. In cases of viral infections (ex. mumps), edema in the parotid gland compresses the auricultemporal nerve and produces pain.

Front 18

What happens if there is a tumor of the parotid gland?

Back 18

-If the tumor is benign, it must be carefully removed piece by piece, to avoid the facial nerve
-If the tumor is malignant, it must be completely removed, along with the facial nerve.

Front 19

Bell's palsy (TEST QUESTION!)

Back 19

A form of facial paralysis caused by dysfunction of the facial nerve (CN VII). The condition is usually temporary.

Front 20

What is the arterial supply of the parotid region?

Back 20

Branches of the:
-posterior auricular a. (behind the ear)
-superficial temporal a. (can feel a pulse in this artery)
-transverse facial a. (crosses the face)

Front 21

What is the veinous drainage of the parotid region?

Back 21

The retromandibular vein.

Front 22

Describe the lympathic drainage of the parotid region?

Back 22

Drainage goes to two groups of cervical lymph nodes:
-Superficial cervical lymph nodes (adjacent to the external jugular vein)
-Deep cervical lymph nodes (adjacent to the internal jugular vein)

Front 23

What innervates the parotid region?

Back 23

-great auricular nerve (a branch of the cervical plexus)
-auriculotemporal nerve (a branch of the trigeminal nerve CN V)