Parotid gland
Parotid gland is the largest salivary gland, it lies deep to external acoustic meatus, behind the ramus of the mandible and infront of the sternocleidomastoid muscle. Parotid receives it’s blood supply from posterior auricular and superficial temporal arteries both which arises from the external carotid artery.
Parotid gland receives sensory and autonomic innervation. The autonomic innervation controls the rate of saliva production. Sensory innervation is supplied by the auriculotemporal nerve. The parasympathetic innervation is via glossopharyngeal nerve. Parasympathetic stimulation causes an increase in saliva production. Sympathetic innervation originates from the superior cervical ganglion, part of the paravertebral chain, increased activity of the sympathetic nervous system inhibits saliva secretion, via vasoconstriction. Saliva is released in the parotid gland via Stensen’s duct and is then opened into the mouth to assist digestion of starch by the action of alpha amylase.