Introduction
A person produces about one and a half liters of saliva every day. The parotid gland (Parotis or Glandula parotidea) is mainly involved in the production of this enormous amount of fluid. It is the largest salivary gland in the mouth and jaw area, which is found in humans as well as in all other highly developed vertebrates. However, it differs not only in size and location from the other salivary glands, but also in the composition of the saliva it produces and therefore at least partially in its function. Thus, the parotid gland is an indispensable part not only of our digestive system, but also of our immune system.
Anatomy and function of the parotid gland
In humans, the glandula parotis is located on both sides of the face. It covers approximately the rear part of the lower jaw bone and is thus located in front of and under the ear. Its excretory duct runs along the large masticatory muscle (musculus masseter) of the lower jaw, penetrates it and ends at the level of the first two upper molars in the oral cavity.
Its opening can be felt here as a sublimity and is often erroneously attributed to bite scars. The salivary gland, which weighs about 20 to 30 grams, consists mainly of glandular cells, which produce a purely “serous”, i.e. very watery saliva, which is rich in proteins and enzymes. This is in contrast to the other salivary glands of the head, which produce a rather low-protein, but mucous saliva.
As far as the enzymes contained in the saliva of the parotid gland are concerned, the enzyme “alpha-amylase” is of particular importance. This enzyme is responsible for the decomposition of carbohydrates and thus assumes the function of predigestion of the food before it reaches the stomach. This is also the reason why bread starts to taste sweet when chewed for a long time – the starch is split into glucose by the alpha-amylase.
In addition, the saliva of the parotid gland also contains immunoglobulins, i.e. antibodies which serve the immunological defense in the oral cavity. These antibodies in combination with other proteins that promote wound healing ensure that wounds in the oral cavity usually heal very quickly and without further complications. Apart from this, the parotid gland is an enormously important structure, as two major important anatomical structures run through it.
First of all, there is the facial nerve (nervus facialis), which is responsible in particular for controlling the mimic muscles (facial muscles). In addition, an important blood vessel runs through the parotid gland with the external carotid artery, which is a branch of the large carotid artery (A. carotis communis). Both the facial nerve and the artery are divided into a number of branches by the parotid gland.
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