THE SALIVARY GLANDS 



223 



The parotid gland is surrounded by a strong sheath, con- 

 tinuous with the deep cervical fascia, and, on this account, its 

 enlargement in inflammatory conditions is somewhat restricted. 

 The facial nerve, after emerging from the stylo-mastoid foramen 

 (p. 80), enters the substance of the gland and breaks up into 

 its terminal branches in that situation. It may occasionally be 

 compressed in acute parotitis, owing to oedema of the gland 



Auriculo- Nerve to orbicularis 

 temporal nerve oculi muscle 



Orbicularis 

 ' oculi muscle 



'>r_-V Parotid duct 



Masseter muscle 

 - Buccinator mus. 

 _ Anterior facial 



vein 



Submaxillary 

 gland 



FIG. 85. -The Parotid Gland and its Duct. 



within its unyielding sheath, and temporary facial paralysis 

 may result. 



If the tip of the finger is placed in front of the tragus of the 

 external ear, it will be found to sink into a depression when 

 the mouth is opened. This depression is produced by the 

 forward movement of the mandibular condyle and it contains 

 a small part of the parotid gland, which may become enlarged 

 in acute parotitis. Under these circumstances, the movements 

 of opening and closing the mouth give rise to considerable 

 pain, and are therefore very much restricted. 



Since the cartilaginous external acoustic meatus lies in a 



