Sialography and Surface Anatomy of the Parotid Duct

Abstract

The many variations in shape and extent of the parotid gland are well known. The parotid gland is larger than indicated in textbooks.¹⁴Not only does this structure vary in different persons, but also on the two sides of the same person.³⁶Hetzar's¹⁵finding of differences of the parotid glands in the two sexes and in persons of different ethnological origins could not be confirmed in children.³⁹There exist, in addition to the main parotid gland, accessory and secondary glands. Their frequency is variously estimated from 1% (at operation)¹and 19.7% of anatomical dissections²²to about 50% seen by sialography.⁴Several basic types of anatomical configurations of the parotid gland and its duct system have been described by different authors.^15,22,29,31 The terminal alveoli of the parotid gland are connected with the intralobular duct through intercalated ducts. The intralobular ducts give rise to