Description
A small accessory parotid gland is occasionally present (21–61% of individuals) and is in close association with the parotid duct. It lies on the masseter muscle and is independent of the main parotid gland. It has its own blood supply from the transverse facial artery and duct draining into the main parotid duct (Ramachar and Huliyappa, 2012).
Related parts of the anatomy
List of Clinical Correlates
- Accessory parotid gland tumors
References
Ramachar, S. M. & Huliyappa, H. A. (2012) Accessory parotid gland tumors. Annals of maxillofacial surgery, 2(1), 90-93.
Learn more about this topic from other Elsevier products
Parotid Gland
The parotid space is defined as the parotid gland and the structures that are within it, such as the facial nerve, vessels, and the intraparotid lymph nodes.
