Human Anatomy: The Salivary Glands

Vocabulary-style flashcards covering the anatomy, innervation, and clinical considerations of the salivary glands based on Human Anatomy Lecture 4.

Major Salivary Glands

The three pairs of the largest salivary glands ($3$ pairs) including the parotid, submandibular, and sublingual glands that produce most of the saliva in the mouth.

Minor Salivary Glands

Small, unnamed salivary glands scattered throughout the oral cavity and oropharynx, typically ranging from $1$–$2\,mm$ in diameter.

Exocrine Gland

A gland that secretes substances into a ductal system to an epithelial surface.

Parotid Gland

The largest of the three paired salivary glands, composed mostly of serous acini and often described as having an inverted pyramid shape.

Parotid Sheath

A tough, unyielding fascial capsule enclosing the parotid gland, derived from the investing layer of deep cervical fascia.

Stylomandibular Ligament

The thickened posterior portion of the investing cervical fascia that separates the parotid gland from the submandibular gland.

Stenson’s Duct (Parotid Duct)

A duct approximately $2\, ext{inches}$ ($5\,cm$) long that enters the oral vestibule through a small orifice opposite the second maxillary molar tooth.

The 4 Bs

The four structures pierced by the parotid duct: the Buccal pad of fat, the Buccinator muscle, Buccopharyngeal fascia, and Buccal mucosa.

Facial Nerve (CN VII)

The most superficial structure passing through the parotid gland, which divides the gland into superficial and deep lobes.

Retromandibular Vein

A vein formed within the parotid gland by the union of the superficial temporal and maxillary veins, located deep to the facial nerve.

External Carotid Artery

The deepest of the three main structures passing through the parotid gland, it eventually divides into the superficial temporal and maxillary arteries.

Auriculotemporal Nerve

A branch of the mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve ($CN\,V3$) that conveys post-synaptic parasympathetic secretomotor fibers to the parotid gland.

Great Auricular Nerve

A branch of the cervical plexus (composed of fibers from $C2$ and $C3$) that provides sensory innervation to the parotid sheath and overlying skin.

Otic Ganglion

The structure where preganglionic parasympathetic fibers from the glossopharyngeal nerve ($CN\,IX$) synapse with postganglionic fibers destined for the parotid gland.

Malignant Parotid Tumor

A highly invasive tumor type that often involves the facial nerve, potentially causing unilateral facial paralysis.

Frey’s Syndrome

A complication following parotid wounds where parasympathetic secretomotor fibers intended for saliva production mistakenly join the great auricular nerve to produce sweat on the skin while eating.

Inferior Salivatory Nucleus

The nucleus that sends preganglionic parasympathetic fibers through the glossopharyngeal nerve ($CN\,IX$) to the otic ganglion.

Sympathetic Innervation (Parotid)

Fibers originating from the superior cervical ganglion that travel along the external carotid artery and inhibit saliva secretion via vasoconstriction.