How superficial is the parotid gland?
Superficial or lateral relations: The gland is situated deep to the skin, superficial fascia, superficial lamina of investing layer of deep cervical fascia and great auricular nerve (anterior ramus of C2 and C3).
What is the best method for examining the parotid glands?
The major salivary glands are best examined by palpation and by observation of the salivary effluent during palpation. Only the parotid gland and the submandibular glands can be examined in this way.
What are the main histological features of major salivary gland?
Major salivary glands are characterized by the presence of numerous excretory units that consist of acini and a peculiar duct system. Under normal conditions, sebaceous glands are annexed to the duct system in the parotid and the submaxillary glands.
How do you identify facial nerve parotid surgery?
The posterior belly of digastric muscle is the most easily identifiable and a very consistent landmark for facial nerve dissection during parotidectomy. When supplemented with the tragal pointer, accuracy in identifying the facial nerve trunk is very high, thereby avoiding inadvertent injury to the nerve trunk.
What separates deep and superficial parotid?
The parotid gland is wrapped around the mandibular ramus and extends to a position anterior and inferior to the ear. It has superficial and deep lobes, separated by the facial nerve. The external carotid artery forms its two terminal branches within the parotid gland: maxillary and superficial temporal artery.
What is a superficial parotidectomy?
A superficial (or lateral) parotidectomy involves removing all of the gland superficial to the facial nerve, whereas a partial superficial parotidectomy involves removing only the portion of the gland surrounding a tumor or mass.
How do you palpate parotid?
In order to examine for parotid enlargement, it is necessary to ask the patient to clench the teeth so that the masseter muscle is palpable. The parotid gland is best felt behind the masseter muscle and in front of the ear.
What is the histological structure of parotid gland?
Parotid glands have mainly serous acini. Submandibular glands have a mixture of mucous and serous acini. Mucous acini stain more weakly than serous acini, because of the techniques used to produce the sections. (look back at histological techniques to remind yourself).
What is parotid gland?
The parotid glands are two salivary glands that sit just in front of the ears on each side of the face. Salivary glands produce saliva to aid in chewing and digesting food. There are many salivary glands in the lips, cheeks, mouth and throat.
What is first bite syndrome?
Objectives/hypothesis: First bite syndrome (FBS) refers to facial pain characterized by a severe cramping or spasm in the parotid region with the first bite of each meal that diminishes over the next several bites.