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The parotid glands are a pair of mainly serous salivary glands located below and in front of each ear canal, draining their secretions into the vestibule of the mouth through the parotid duct. [3] Each gland lies behind the mandibular ramus and in front of the mastoid process of the temporal bone .
The parotid duct is formed when several interlobular ducts, the largest ducts inside the parotid gland, join.It emerges from the parotid gland. It runs forward along the lateral side of the masseter muscle for around 7 cm. [2] In this course, the duct is surrounded by the buccal fat pad.
The superficial parotid lymph nodes are a group of lymph nodes anterior to the ear.. Their afferent vessels drain the root of the nose, the eyelids, the frontotemporal region, the external acoustic meatus and the tympanic cavity, possibly also the posterior parts of the palate and the floor of the nasal cavity.
The preauricular deep parotid lymph nodes (anterior auricular glands or preauricular glands), from one to three in number, lie immediately in front of the tragus. Their afferents drain multiple surfaces, most of which are lateral in origin.
Salivary gland dysfunction refers to either xerostomia (the symptom of dry mouth) or salivary gland hypofunction (reduced production of saliva); it is associated with significant impairment of quality of life. [34] Following radiotherapy of the head and neck region, salivary gland dysfunction is a predictable side-effect. [34]
The deep parotid lymph nodes are lymph nodes found below the parotid gland. The afferents of the subparotid glands drain the nasal part of the pharynx and the posterior parts of the nasal cavities. Their efferents pass to the superior deep cervical glands .
The most common cause of enlargement of the submental lymph nodes are infections (including viral infections (mononucleosis, Epstein-Barr virus infection, and cytomegaloviral infections), toxoplasmosis, and dental infections (e.g. periodontitis)).
The submandibular duct (also Wharton's duct or historically submaxillary duct) is one of the salivary excretory ducts. It is about 5 cm long, and its wall is much thinner than that of the parotid duct. It drains saliva from each bilateral submandibular gland and sublingual gland to the sublingual caruncle in the floor of the mouth.