Anatomy, Head and Neck, Parotid Gland

Excerpt

The parotid gland is the largest of the 3 paired major salivary glands, including the submandibular and sublingual glands; this gland is located in the retromandibular fossa, a space mainly occupied by this gland and is bordered superiorly by the zygomatic arch, anteriorly by the masseter muscle, and posteriorly by the sternocleidomastoid muscle. However, the superficial lobe extends anteriorly, covering the mandibular ramus and the posterior area of the masseter muscle. See Images. The Mouth, Right Parotid Gland, Posterior, and The Mouth, Right Parotid Gland, anterior. The parotid gland and the other salivary glands play an essential function in the oral cavity because they secret saliva, facilitating chewing, swallowing, speaking, and digesting. The facial nerve courses through the body of the parotid gland, creating a unique relationship between them, which requires focused attention when performing parotidectomies or other surgery in the region.