X CLOSE

Dissection of left parotideomasseteric region

Facial nerve within parotid gland

Stanford holds the copyright to the David L. Bassett anatomical images and has assigned Creative Commons license Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International to all of the images.
For additional information regarding use and permissions, please contact the Medical History Center.

Image #63-3
Diagram Image
Legend Image
Dissection of left parotideomasseteric region
Facial nerve within parotid gland
The superficial lobe of the parotid gland has been reflected posteriorly. The main parotid duct (of Stenson) is out of view anteriorly. Its two principal branches (6,7) drain various parts of the gland. The superior branch connects with the deep lobe (16), while the inferior branch ramifies within the superficial lobe and also receives a tributary from the deep lobe. The isthmus through which the inferior duct passes was necessarily cut away in reflecting the superficial part of the gland. Cut ends of the inferior duct are visible at 20.
  1. Zygomatic arch (cut away)
  2. Muscle fibers which originated from zygomatic arch
  3. Zygomatic branches of facial nerve
  4. Buccal branches of facial nerve
  5. Accessory parotid gland
  6. Duct draining deep lobule of parotid gland
  7. Duct from superficial lobe of parotid gland
  8. Masseter muscle
  9. Posterior facial vein
  10. Superficial branch facial nerve
  11. Superficial temporal artery (cut off)
  12. External acoustic meatus
  13. Auriculotemporal nerve
  14. Temporal branches of facial nerve
  15. Posterior auricular nerve
  16. Deep lobe of parotid gland (retromandibular process)
  17. Superficial lobe of parotid gland (reflected)
  18. Superior (temporofacial) division of facial nerve (VII)
  19. Inferior (cervicofacial) division of facial nerve (VII)
  20. Cut ends of inferior division of parotid duct (in this area the duct passed through the isthmus which connected the deep and superficial parts of the gland)
  21. Marginal mandibular branch facial nerve (VII)
  22. Sternocleidomastoid muscle (reflected posteriorly)
  23. Parotid branch superficial temporal artery
  24. Accessory nerve (XI)
  25. Superior deep cervical lymph nodes