Parotid Gland and Submandibular Triangle - LO 1

1. What are the bony & muscular landmarks that define the parotid region?

The parotid gland is found at the inferolateral aspect of the face. The gland is located in the parotid fossa, an irregular space bordered:

• • Anteriorly: ramus of mandible & masseter m.,

  • Posteriorly: mastoid process of temporal bone & sternocleidomastoid (SCM) m.,

  • Superiorly: temporomandibular joint (TMJ) & external acoustic meatus, and

  • Inferiorly: angular tract (a thick band of connective tissue, extending from the angle of the mandible to the hyoid bone).