parotid gland

Examples of parotid gland in the following topics:

• Glossopharyngeal (IX) Nerve

  • It supplies parasympathetic fibers to the parotid gland via the otic ganglion.
  • Visceral motor (general visceral efferent) - provides parasympathetic innervation of the parotid gland.

• Facial (VII) Nerve

  • The motor and sensory parts of the facial nerve enter the petrous temporal bone into the internal auditory meatus (intimately close to the inner ear), then runs a tortuous course (including two tight turns) through the facial canal, emerges from the stylomastoid foramen, and passes through the parotid gland, where it divides into five major branches.
  • Although it passes through the parotid gland, it does not innervate the gland (this is the responsibility of cranial nerve IX, the glossopharyngeal nerve).

• Parasympathetic (Craniosacral) Division

  • These paired ganglia supply all parasympathetic innervation to the head and neck: ciliary ganglion (spincter pupillae, ciliary muscle), pterygopalatine ganglion (lacrimal gland, glands of nasal cavity), submandibular ganglion (submandibular and sublingual glands), and otic ganglion (parotid gland).

• Cervical Plexus

  • It provides sensory innervation for the skin over parotid gland and mastoid process, and both surfaces of the outer ear.

• Mouth

  • The mouth is also known as the oral cavity, and within the oral cavity sits the tongue, the soft and hard palate, the uvula, and numerous salivary glands.
  • Saliva is projected out from three main pairs of salivary glands: the large parotid glands near the cheeks, the submandibular glands beneath the mandible, and the sublingual glands beneath the tongue.

• Digestive Properties of the Stomach

  • EGF is a low-molecular-weight polypeptide first purified from a mouse's submandibular gland, but since found in many human tissues including the submandibular and parotid glands.
  • There are many different gastric glands which secrete many different chemicals.
  • The pyloric gland, found in the stomach, secretes gastrin and other hormones.
  • The cardiac gland, found in the stomach, secretes gastrin and other hormones.
  • The fundic gland, found in the stomach, secretes gastrin and other hormones.

• Sjögren's Syndrome

  • Sjögren's syndrome is an autoimmune disease in which immune cells attack and destroy the exocrine glands that produce tears and saliva.
  • A physical examination can reveal dryness on the surface of the eye, and a biopsy of the lip can reveal lymphocytes clustered around salivary glands, and damage to these glands due to inflammation.
  • If lesions are observed within the salivary glands, it is strongly indicative of Sjögren's syndrome.
  • There is currently no known cure for Sjögren's syndrome and there is no specific treatment to permanently restore gland secretion.
  • Others are forced to cope with blurred vision, constant eye discomfort, recurrent mouth infections, swollen parotid glands, hoarseness, and difficulty in swallowing and eating.

• Mumps

  • The common symptoms of mumps include inflammation of the salivary glands, pancreas, and testicles; fever, and headache.
  • Swelling of the salivary glands, specifically the parotid gland, is known as parotitis, and it occurs in 60–70% of infections and 95% of patients with symptoms .
  • A physical examination confirms the presence of the swollen glands.
  • As with any inflammation of the salivary glands, the level of amylase in the blood is often elevated.
  • This child with mumps displays the typical swelling of the salivary glands caused by the mumps virus.

• Overview of the Adrenal Glands

  • In mammals, the adrenal glands (also known as suprarenal glands) are endocrine glands that sit atop the kidneys.
  • In mammals, the adrenal glands (also known as suprarenal glands) are endocrine glands that sit atop the kidneys.
  • In humans, the right adrenal gland is triangular shaped, while the left adrenal gland is semilunar shaped.
  • Each adrenal gland has two distinct structures, the outer adrenal cortex and the inner medulla, both of which produce hormones.
  • The adrenal glands are triangular-shaped organs on top of the kidneys.

• Sweat (Sudoriferous) Glands

  • Sweat glands, also known as sudoriferous glands, are distributed over most of the body surface.
  • Sweat glands, also called sudoriferous glands, are simple tubular glands found almost everywhere on our body. 
  • The other kind of sweat glands are known as apocrine glands. 
  • Unlike eccrine glands, the exact function of apocrine glands is unknown and debated. 
  • Cross sectional image of skin showing a sweat gland and a sebaceous gland.