General Medical Information

Parotid Gland

Susan D. John
Michael D. Maves

The parotid gland, which is anterior to and below the lower part of the ear, extends subcutaneously backward over the anterior portion of the sternocleidomastoid muscle, forward over the masseter muscle, and deeply behind the ramus of the mandible to lie between the mandible and the external acoustic meatus and mastoid process. The gland is roughly divided into a lateral and medial portion by the course of the facial nerve. Related to the parotid gland are several periparotid and intraparotid lymph nodes, which may swell. The parotid gland drains through the parotid duct. It is innervated by the auriculotemporal nerve from the otic ganglion.