| Parotid duct | |
|---|---|
| Right parotid gland. Deep and anterior aspects. (Parotid duct labeled at center right.) | |
| Dissection, showing salivary glands of right side. (Parotid duct visible at center.) | |
| Latin | ductus parotideus |
| Gray's | subject #242 1134 |
| MeSH | Stensen's+Duct |
The parotid duct, also known as Stensen's duct, is the route that saliva takes from the parotid gland into the mouth.
It passes through the buccal fat, buccopharyngeal fascia, and buccinator muscle then opens into the vestibule of the mouth next to the maxillary second molar tooth. The buccinator acts as a valve that prevents inflation of the duct during blowing. Running along with the duct superiorly is the transverse facial artery and upper buccal nerve; running along with the duct inferiorly is the lower buccal nerve.
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Blockage, whether caused by salivary duct stones or external compression, may cause pain and swelling of the parotid gland (parotitis).
It is named after Niels Stensen (1638–1686), a Danish anatomist credited with its discovery.
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