As mentioned before, the parotid gland is located in the preauricular area and is bounded by the following structures:

Superiorly - zygomatic arch;
Inferiorly - mandibular angle, inferior border of the mandibular body and sternocleidomastoid muscle;
Anteriorly - masseter muscle;
Posteriorly - external ear, mastoid process of the temporal bone and sternocleidomastoid;
Medially - parapharyngeal space;
Laterally (superficially) - parotid fascia, platysma and skin.

The gland is subdivided into two lobes by the facial nerve (CN VII) (Read more!) that goes through it. After the nerve leaves the skull via the stylomastoid foramen, it enters the gland at its posterior border. The facial nerve gives five terminal branches within the gland that innervate the muscles of facial expression. They include the temporal branch, zygomatic branch, buccal branch, marginal mandibular branch and cervical branch.

Facial nerve (CN VII) with parotid gland

Facial nerve (CN VII) without parotid gland

Besides the facial nerve passing through the parotid gland, two more anatomical structures travel through it, and they are the external carotid artery and the retromandibular vein. Also, the gland is related to the great auricular nerve.

The external carotid artery enters the gland behind the mandible, passes through the posteromedial aspect of the gland and at its superior pole divides into two terminal branches - the superficial temporal artery (Read more!) and maxillary artery (Read more!). Occasionally, it may give off the posterior auricular artery (Read more!) within the parotid gland. Also, the superficial artery gives rise to the transverse facial artery (Read more!) within the substance of the parotid gland.

The retromandibular vein is another structure arising within the parotid gland tissue. It is formed by the confluence of the maxillary vein and superficial temporal vein (Read more!) that enter the gland at the same site where their corresponding arteries leave. It goes within the gland towards its apex, and this vein is one of the major veins that is responsible for venous drainage of the face. The retromandibular vein leaves the gland at the posterior aspect of the apex and usually divides into two divisions - anterior division and posterior division - that join with the facial vein and posterior auricular vein, respectively.

The great auricular nerve is the largest ascending sensory cutaneous branch of the cervical plexus. It originates from the anterior (ventral) rami of the second and third cervical spinal nerves (C2 and C3), arising behind the middle portion of the sternocleidomastoid muscle. When this nerve reaches the inferior pole of the parotid gland, it divides into two terminal branches - anterior and posterior. The anterior (facial) branch innervates the skin over the parotid gland. Within the parotid gland, it gives small twigs that communicate with the facial nerve (CN VII).

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Parotid gland relations