Stensen’s Parotid Salivary Duct
Description
The secretions of the parotid gland are transported to the oral cavity via the Stensen’s duct. Embedded in the division of the parotid-masseteric-buccinator fascia, it arises from the anterior surface of the gland and is ~5 cm long. It runs anteriorly superficial to the masseter muscle and over its anterior border, passing around the buccal space and the Bichat’s deep buccal fat pad, like a tie around the neck. It then traverses the buccopharyngeal fascia and the buccinator muscle. The duct then pierces the buccinator, moving medially just under the buccal mucosa. It opens out into the oral cavity near the second upper molar tooth. The relationship with buccinator ensures that ballooning of the duct does not occur during blowing.
Landmarking the Stensen’s parotid duct and the MacGregor patch is performed using the “magic finger” technique. The horizontal finger is applied on the zygomatic arch caudal border, while the vertical finger is just following the masseter muscle anterior border. Where the fingers cross is the MacGregor patch that corresponds to the transverse facial pedicle, including the Stensen’s duct, the buccal branches of the facial nerve, and the longitudinal branch of the transverse facial artery ( Figs. 12.1–12.4 ).
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