1582 



HUMAN ANATOMY. 



THE SALIVARY GLANDS. 



These, besides the mucous follicles of the mouth, are \.\\e parotid , the submax- 

 illary, and the S7ibHngiial glands of the two sides. They are all reddish gray in 

 color and of about the same firmness, excepting the parotid, which is denser. 



The Parotid Gland. — The parotid is the largest of the salivary glands, weigh- 

 ing from 20-30 gm. , with a considerable range beyond these limits. It is situated 

 behind the upper part of the ramus of the lower jaw, which it overlaps both within 

 and without. Its limits in both directions are very variable. The prolongation for- 

 ward over the masseter muscle may become nearly distinct from the rest of the gland. 



Fig. 



1343- 



Accessory 

 parotid 



Zyg:omaticus 



major 

 Parotid duct 



Inframandibular Jt, 



branch of facial 

 nerve 



External jugular ll 



vein 



Buccinator 

 Masseter 



ij_ Facial artery 



Mylo-hyoid 

 Digastric, anterior belly 



Submaxillary gland 



Superficial dissection, showing parotid and submaxillary glands undisturbed. 



and is then known as the socia parotidis. The sheath of the parotid is a strong fibrous 

 envelope continuous with the cervical fascia in front of the sterno-mastoid, closely 

 applied to the glandular substance and continuous with the partitions that pass 

 through the organ, so that it can be dissected off from the gland only with difficulty. 

 The parotid is divided into many small compartments or lobules by these resisting 

 septa of fibrous tissue, the quantity of which gives it toughness. The shape of the 

 parotid, as well as its size, is variable, since it grows where it can among more or less 

 resisting structures. Its shape and relations, therefore, may be considered together. 

 Relations. — The parotid occupies a cavity bounded in front by the ramus of 

 the jaw, covered by the masseter and internal pterygoid muscles ; behind by the 



