Parotid gland

Glandula parotidea

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What it is

The largest salivary gland, a lobulated wedge of tissue in front of and below the ear, wrapped around the back edge of the jaw bone and reaching down to the angle of the jaw. The facial nerve fans out through the middle of it on its way to the face muscles.

Function

Produces thin, watery (serous) saliva rich in amylase, which starts starch digestion; it contributes ~25 % of saliva, most of it during meals.

Size

About 5.8 × 3.4 cm, 1–2 cm thick, 20–30 g

Clinical note

Mumps swells the parotids painfully in front of the ears. Because the facial nerve runs through the gland, parotid surgery carries a risk of facial palsy, and parotid tumours (mostly benign pleomorphic adenomas) must be removed carefully.