Anatomy · Head and Neck

Parotid gland: anatomy, relations, structures within gland and applied anatomy

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  • Parotid gland: largest of the three paired salivary glands (parotid, submandibular, sublingual).
    • Almost entirely serous, weighing about 25 g
    • Lies in the parotid bed behind the ramus of the mandible
  • Lobulated and yellowish brown; too soft to be palpable in a healthy individual, though the bony boundaries of the parotid bed are identifiable.

Location, Extent and Parotid Bed

Boundaries of the parotid bed (retromandibular fossa)

Boundary

Anterior

Structure
Posterior border of the ramus of mandible

Posterior

Structure
Mastoid process

Superior

Structure
External acoustic meatus and posterior temporomandibular joint

Medial

Structure
Styloid process

parotid bed, lateral view Parotid bed, lateral view.