There are 3 salivary glands:

• Parotid gland

• Sublingual gland- covered in 'ENT & Eyes' section 'Throat' subsection

• Submandibular gland- covered in 'ENT & Eyes' section 'Throat' subsection

The structures named below will all be covered later on in 'The Head & Neck' section.

 

 

 

Relations to parotid gland:

• Posteriorly- sternocleidomastoid muscle & external auditory meatus

• Anteriorly- masseter muscle

• Superiorly- zygomatic arch

• Inferiorly- angle of mandible

 

Structures passing into parotid gland:

• Facial nerve

• External carotid artery

• Retromandibular and superficial temporal veins

 

Parotid gland innervation:

• General sensory- C2, C3 & CN V3 (mandibular nerve)

• PNS fibres- CN IX (glossopharyngeal nerve)

• SNS fibres- external carotid nerve plexus